First ever all military pediatric critical care training held in Okinawa

  • Published
  • By Laura McGowan
  • 88 Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Oh. --  In May 2014, more than 60 Air Force, Army, and Navy military pediatric healthcare personnel physicians, nurses, paramedics and respiratory therapists received pediatric critical care training at the United States Hospital Okinawa, Japan.

This pioneering team was led by Dr. (Col.) Daniel Bruzzini, 88th Medical Group at WPAFB, and his pediatric intensive care team from the San Antonio Military Health System, Texas, Dr. (Maj.) Joel Reyes and Dr. (Maj.) Matthew Borgman conducted the course, utilizing the Pediatric Fundamentals of Critical Care Support (PFCCS) course book. The training included interactive lectures, small group skill stations and high-fidelity simulation.

"It was truly a very rewarding mission, as it was the first time ever an all-military pediatric critical care training was accomplished," said Bruzzini. "[It will] better prepare our colleagues for the trauma/critical care needs of children affected by natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and warfare."

He said, "Since 2010, I have set it up to run three times a year at the Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills (C-STARS St. Louis), and it continues to this day with C-STARS students attending it at no charge and military members for a reduced rate."

The attendees were trained in pediatric critical care using interactive lectures, small group skill stations, and high-fidelity simulation, during this intense two-day training course. The training is based from the PFCCS course book, whose first edition the Society of Critical Care Medicine published in 2008.

The skill stations provided hands-on practice in managing pediatric sedatives, ventilator management, pediatric x-ray interpretation, and pediatric transport. Pediatric simulators were used to integrate and apply lessons learned.

"We see critically ill children in our ER and while deployed," said emergency room nurse, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tony Torres. "This course provides the training needed to care for them."

Each PFCCS student was awarded 20 hours of continuing healthcare education hours by the military education network, and another course is being planned at the United States Naval Hospital, Guam, for the October/November 2014 time frame.