Photo By Sgt. Derick Fennell | U.S. Army Physician Assistants work together to find an airway on a new smart...... read more read more
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McChord, Washington – During all forms of medical care, everyone has a role to play so that the U.S. Army Medical Command's operation runs as smoothly as planned. Physician Assistants are medically certified personnel who help assist Doctors of Medicine and specialize in patient treatment and care.
The Army has an abundance of PAs, military occupational specialty 65D, who plan, organize, perform, and supervise troop medical care at Levels I and II. The military officer or civilian PA directs services, teaches and trains enlisted medics, and functions as a medical platoon leader or an officer-in-charge in designated units. America's I Corps Surgeon Cell is located here and hosted training for PAs across JBLM in honor of Physician Assistants Week.
This initiative is a first for the I Corps Surgeon Cell to get all battalion, brigade, command, and hospital PAs away from medics and clinics so that they could refresh their training together at various facilities across JBLM.
According to training coordinators, this training is essential for PAs because Soldier care is not only inside a medical facility but can occur in the field where conditions might not be ideal. PAs working at various medical facilities and echelons of care were there to help cross-train and made sure to drive that point forward.
"This training is allowing our Physician Assistants to be at a level of competency when they deploy so that they can render the best care to patients out in the field," said Ian Gunyea, a certified physician assistant with Madigan Army Medical Center.
PAs participating had the luxury of training on new, state-of-the-art equipment and mannequins: one of only two female mannequins used for training within the U.S. Army training.
MAMC's Charles A. Andersen Simulation Center held the majority of the training. The advanced training center oversees medical education and simulation here.
"Our PAs are our battlefield care providers and we are the first to deploy with units if ever there was a need to. It's important for them to keep their skills fresh and even when we are not deployed, Pacific Command exercises are important to help train in battlefield simulated environments." said Lt. Col. Robin Cushing, physician assistant, clinical operations, I Corps Surgeon Cell.
Many within the Army witness PAs as healthcare professionals, visionaries, and strategists, critical in shaping the military's future medical and combat standards. The week honoring these critical members of Army Medicine highlighted the path forward for Army physician assistants, according to U.S. Army Medical Capability Development Integration Director Col. James Jones, as "a journey marked by innovation, dedication, and strategic leadership."
| Date Taken: | 10.11.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 10.23.2023 15:49 |
| Story ID: | 456320 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 155 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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