Medics gain insights from aircrew Published May 20, 2010 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Seven members of an 81st Medical Group surgical team recently sat in on pre-flight briefings with the 45th Airlift Squadron to gain perspective of issues that might relate to a medical setting. The 45th AS provides upgrade pilot training in the C-21aircraft. Maj. (Dr.) Thomas Paynter, an orthopaedic surgeon with the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron, operating room nurse Capt. Christy Livery and surgical technicians Tech. Sgt. Pierre Vallee, Staff Sgt. Jade Foster, Senior Airmen Paul Cummings and Adam Hall and Airman 1st Class Eric Knight participated. "We observed preflight briefings and interacted with the pilots for two hours," Major Paynter explained. "We discussed issues related to crew resource management and operational risk management. The goal was to see if the interaction they (aircrew members) have in their briefings was something we could bring back and relate to the medical environment." He continued, "From our perspective, we wanted to see how they conducted their briefings, how they shared information, how they identified risks and minimized them for their flying missions. One major element we observed was the way they were able to communicate effectively as a team. Although we have different missions, this relates to our objective of ensuring patient safety." Major Paynter, a 1998 Air Force Academy graduate, noted that he had some aviation background as a soaring instructor-pilot while attending the academy so he knew what to expect during the 45th AS session. but young medics without aviation experience might pick up some valuable information He added, "We used the experience to see what we can do from a surgical viewpoint to reduce safety issues in the future."