Development of an Advanced Life Support patient transfer training program

Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital is relatively isolated from major milit ary or civilian medical centers. Patients there who require a higher level of care are transferred to tertiary facilities. It is standard for nurses o r physicians to accompany patients requiring Advanced Cardiac Life Support care during transfer to another facility. A a-day course was developed to p rovide nurses and physicians with advanced training in caring for patients during transport, The purpose was to develop a pool of nurses and other hea lth care providers who would be trained and experienced as medical attendan ts on ground ambulance, rotary-wing aircraft, and fixed-wing aircraft. Nurs es were awarded 16.6 contact hours of continuing education, and the course has been submitted for continuing medical education units. On after-action reports, students indicated favorable results but needed more scenario and intubation training, The course is being offered quarterly, has been update d, and continues to be evaluated.