HOSPITAL INTEGRATED LANES TRAINING - BRIGADE-DIRECTED IMPLEMENTATION OF A MEDICAL LANES TRAINING-PROGRAM DURING ANNUAL TRAINING

The ''lanes'' concept of training was integrated into a medical site s upport mission of the 804th Medical Brigade, U.S. Army Reserve, during Annual Training, 1993 at Fort Drum, New York, This training, termed H ospital Integrated Lanes Training (HILT), included STX, FTX, patient p lay, and full use of Deployable Medical Systems equipment, The medical care of over 33,000 personnel participating in tactical annual traini ng exercises was not interrupted during any concurrent phase of lanes training. Brigade operations planners developed an array of medical ex ercises that involved both moulaged and paper patient play, These exer cises began prior to hospital set-up and continued for 24 hours a day throughout the tactical exercise, Injuries likely to be encountered du ring combat operations were inserted into the play singly and under a mass-casualty scenario, The standard of care for all injuries was dete rmined with the Army Medical Department Center and School guidance. Pr ior coordination of brigade medical assets with external air and groun d ambulance organizations broadened the scope of the training and faci litated effective use of command and control, communications, and equi pment over a wide geographic area. Medical records were collected and evaluated at the conclusion of all exercises, After-action reviews wer e conducted by all medical units to assist in the planning of future H ILT exercises, The HILT concept is a valuable tool for the complex tra ining requirements of field medical units organized under Medical Forc e 2000. The concept of integrated lanes training allows for the develo pment and continuous improvement of individual and sectional skills fo r medical personnel and should be applied within all echelons of care.