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U. S. Naval Flight Surgeon Handbook: Aeromedical Evacuation* |
References:
Points of Contact:
*Call your local DSN operator to see if applicable geographical area voice codes are required.
DOD Policy
It is DOD policy that the movement of patients of the armed
forces, in both peace and war, be accomplished by airlift when
airlift is available, when conditions permit and if not medically
contraindicated. The policy further states that this mission will be
carried out by units specifically assigned that task except when
urgent medical requirements dictate otherwise. In that case, any
suitable aircraft may be pressed into service.
General
Aeromedical evacuations from the field, from aboard ship and
from in-garrison facilities are frequently of sufficient urgency that
local aircraft assets are used in order to transfer a patient to the
nearest available medical facility suitable to that patient's needs.
In cases requiring higher levels of care, where immediate danger to
life and limb are not urgent considerations or where considerable
distances are involved, the Worldwide Aeromedical Evacuation system
is used. Or, it may be that urgent cases may require removal from a
remote site using local aircraft assets and a link up with the aeromedical evacuation system at some location for further transport.
The Navy overseas component commander is responsible for providing
aeromedical evacuation over routes solely of interest to the Navy and
where the facilities of the Worldwide Aeromedical Evacuation System
cannot provide this service. Thus, a burn case requiring evacuation
from the middle of the Mediterranean would require use of Navy assets
for transportation to some land-based U.S. facility in Sicily or
Italy where the patient can then be entered into the worldwide
aeromedical evacuation system.
Caution
Aeromedical evacuation is a very helpful tool, but DOD policy
should not be interpreted as an absolute requirement. You may
be called upon for advice or to accompany a medical evacuation
requested by a non-flight surgeon medical officer. In some cases,
evacuation by air may not be in the best interests of the patient or
may cause harm.
One must also bear in mind that an aviator will press a mission further than he otherwise would if he believes lives are at stake, and he must so assume when an aeromedical evacuation is requested. He may, therefore, launch in bad weather or other than ideal circumstances. It is incumbent upon the flight surgeon to evaluate all factors, and if an aeromedical evacuation seems ill advised, to present that opinion to the attending physician and through the medical chain of command if necessary. Clearly, these opinions must be presented in the most diplomatic and informed of methods. When presented with carefully reasoned objectives based on patient interests and safety, most physicians will look at alternative methods of transportation. Entry into the Worldwide Aeromedical Evacuation system is a bit more tightly controlled and run by people who do this every day. That system has a series of checks which prevent such problems.
Organization of the Worldwide Aeromedical Evacuation System
Patient Evacuation System (2 components)
There are Dets of AESs as well at various turn around points and receiving facilities in the U.S. and the Pacific which provide support.
How it Works
The flight surgeon elects to medevac a patient. The nearest
U.S. medical facility does not have the capability to handle the case
but does have a large airport available. The flight surgeon prepares
the patient for transport while the staging medical facility contacts
the ASMRO (JMRO in European and Pacific theaters) with the request
for movement of the patient. ASMRO (or JMRO) matches the patients
requirements with the capabilities of higher level facilities for
that day and then contacts the cognizant AES for movement to
the final destination. Each case is regulated individually except
during wartime, when large numbers of casualties may dictate
regulation and transport on the basis of injury categories such as
neurology injury, orthopedics, burn or other.
Airframes in Use:
Medical Crews on Board:
No medical officer is aboard. The medical crew relies on the orders and diagnosis of the originating medical officer.
Patient classification (based on condition and ability to egress in an emergency)
Class 1 (Psychiatric)
Class 2 (Litter)
Class 3 (Ambulatory)
Class 4 (Infants)
Class 5 (Outpatients)
Class 6 (Attendants)
Movement Precedence:
1. Urgent - move immediately
Indication - to save life/limb/eyesight or prevent complications of serious illness.
Requires - Doctor to doctor referral.
*Validation by surgeon at Wing or designated overseas flight surgeon.
2. Priority - move within 24 hrs
Requires - Doctor to doctor referral.
*Validation as with Urgent.
3. Routine - move within 72 hrs
Routine flight.
GPMRC locates a bed for the patient.
4. Special - Inflight care exceeds usual capabilities
Requires special equipment/teams/expertise/limit stops/RON.
Your Responsibilities for Patient Preparation:
Special considerations:
1. Physicians
2. Patient
United States Naval Flight Surgeon Handbook: 2nd Edition 1998
The Society of U.S. Naval Flight Surgeons
*From the United States Naval Flight Surgeon Handbook: 2nd Edition, 1998, as found in Operational Medicine 2001, Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300
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