Military-civilian collaboration in trauma care and the senior visiting surgeon program
Abstract
On June 14, 2006, the Institute of Medicine released a three-part report on the future of emergency care, underscoring the evolving crisis in access to urgent medical care in the United States. The clear threat of future terrorist activity and recent experience with natural disasters highlight the need to develop a comprehensive response system based on the integration of civilian and military resources. Collaboration between civilian and military surgeons during times of war is evident throughout our history, and civilian surgeons have provided surgical care to the wounded since the Revolutionary War. Many observations during times of intense conflict translated into advances in civilian medicine. Critical analysis by military and civilian sources after the first Gulf War (1991) brought about several fundamental changes in the operation and structure of military medical units. A 1998 General Accounting Office report identified the lack of valid training in trauma care for military medical personnel, who practiced largely in military treatment facilities caring primarily for healthy, active-duty personnel and their dependents or retirees. The report recommended the development of collaborative military and civilian training platforms at urban level 1 trauma centers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 27, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA627800
Entities
People
- Donald D. Trunkey
- Ernest Moore
- Jay A. Johannigman
- John B. Holocomb
- M. M. Knudson
- William Schwab
Organizations
- United States Army Institute of Surgical Research