A question for the USAR TPU leaders? What training are you doing to keep the surgical services team up to speed?

This has been an issue since David was a walk on soldier. As far back as the 70's this was a discussion with the Pentagon. OR staff don't need "stuff" to train. They need ER experience so they know what is coming to the OR. Is is bleeding, bone, lung, etc. And the real question is HOW MUCH. Is it one major bone fx, one small artery bleed, or are they gut shot with multiple bleeding sites and tissue trauma. I never learned how to teach that, but I did learn how to ASK that.

It is difficult to train the OR section because of the equipment that is needed. The ISO's are always locked because the commanders of TPU units do not want anything to go missing off the hand receipt. I trained my soldiers by having them go to Jackson Trauma Center where the Army Trauma Center is located and perform cases. We had a special agreement with them until recently. The local JAG office as well as your higher echelon can set something up for your section at a local trauma center. I understand the need to stay competent, while I was deployed I had 2 scrub techs in my section, one was an open heart, ortho, general surgery expert. The other was a school teacher, it was a long 18 months.