Podcast 23: Clinical Practice Guidelines for the SOF Medic

While at the 2017 Remote Damage Control Resuscitation(RDCR) conference put on by the Tactical Hemostasis, Oxygenation and Resuscitation(THOR) network in Norway, Sean took the time to corner Dr. Shackleford to get her thoughts on the Joint Trauma System Clinical Practice Guidelines. Be sure to check out the new JTS Facebook, LinkedIn Pages, Instagram and Twitter feeds and YouTube Channel for more updates.

• What is the process that the CPGs go through before publication?
  1. Medics identify what guidelines are needed
  2. A team consisting of a medic, unit surgeon and specialist in the field begin a draft.
  3. Additional authors, specialists and SMEs are added as identified
  4. Progress is monitored by the Prolonged Field Care Working Group Steering Committee and advisors from the Joint Trauma System.
  5. Final draft sent out to interested parties, other specialists and PFC working group members for review
  6. Published in the Journal of Special Operations Medicine(JSOM) with proprietary format
  7. Formatted for public release via the JTS website
  8. Presented as a Thursday morning JTS CME Conference Talk.
  9. Posted on prolongedfieldcare.org
     • Interviews with authors are published as podcasts.
     • Primary and Co-Authors may write additional thoughts as a blog post.
     • polldaddy quizzes may be included in the posts or separately.
     • Released and promoted through social media such as our Facebook Pages, Instagram and Twitter feeds.
• Why not just update the Tactical Medical Emergency Protocols?
  • We wanted peer reviewed guidelines that could be updated individually as needed.  Independent medical providers can now see what studies were referenced per recommendation.  We have partnered with USSOCOM and advised several changes and additions to the TMEPs.  The CPGs will help guide the CEB as they update future additions of the TMEPS as a reference.
• What are the origins of the CPGs?
  • Sharing lessons learned and best practices accross the theaters of war
• Why are there CPGs specific to Prolonged Field Care and Critical Care Evacuation Teams(CCAT) in addition to the main JTS CPGs?
  • There are large enough differences in levels of training, equipment and medications available and general logistics involved that make providing an identical care in all environments impossible. The CPGs take into consideration the unique challenges of the operational environment so the the provider is presented with several best options for the unique issues presented with each etiology and environment.
• What CPGs are in the works and when can we expect to see them published?
•  Coming Soon
  • Austere Nursing Care – Submitted!
  • Austere Damage Control Resuscitation – Drafted!
  • Austere Airway – Drafted!
  • Sepsis, Recognition and Treatment – Concept
  • Prepare for Flight – Concept
    
  • Thoracic Injuries – Concept
    
  • Abdominal Injuries – Concept
    
• Why don’t you publish them all at once?
  • Most of them have taken over a year from time of inception to release.  They are meticulously researched, debated and reviewed before publication in the JSOM. Quality is more important than quantity.
• When will they be updated?
  • They can be individually updated once the need arises.

Here is our page with the current CPGs including Crush, Burn, Analgesia & Sedation and Wound Care

Download the episode from our SOMA Page now!