Page 130 - JSOM Spring 2018

An Ongoing Series

Introduction to Prolonged Field Care
for the Spring 2018 Edition

Jamie Riesberg, MD

an one be “certified” in prolonged field care (PFC)? This all SOCMSSC dates in the future. There will be a separate
Cinteresting question recently arose among some of the Army Training Requirements and Resources System course
PCF Working Group. Medical or military personnel often an- code for the 3-week SFMS3 Courses (20 seats each). The
ticipate a certificate or some sort of formal recognition after course will focus on basic laboratory skills, regional and in-
completing training. Because PFC medical training focuses on travenous anesthesia, managing a sterile field, and extrem-
improving your medical skills and preparedness, it seems to ity surgery, including debridement, delayed primary closure,
make sense that there would be a course or certification. PFC, amputation, and fasciotomy. SFMS3 will introduce PFC and
by definition, is field medical care applied “beyond doctrinal irregular warfare medicine concepts and familiarize students
planning timelines.” Let that settle in. “Beyond doctrinal plan- with the other PFC-specific clinical practice guidelines (CPGs)
ning timelines” means that the evacuation or patient care plan that are already available. SFMS3 is a good start to ensuring
has already failed. In essence, being certified in PFC is akin to some key principles of PFC are regularly refreshed in a formal
being certified in contingency operations. The core capabilities manner. Some PFC capabilities will not be refreshed or taught,
of PFC are designed as a starting point to help one prepare, to however, and units will need to be diligent in developing and
train for the worst possible day when you simply cannot get standardizing their PFC skills sustainment.
the level of care the patient needs. One cannot rely on PFC as a
doctrinal solution, because it is defined as a situation you find Finally, take time in this issue to review the Ocular Trauma
yourself in, rather than a formal, planned course of action. PFC CPG. Loss of life, limb, and eyesight is a familiar concept
Either way, there are some great unit-level PFC training initia- to most. Consider, however, a situation where you cannot get
tives going on right now that focus on the core 10 capabilities. a patient with ocular trauma to an ophthalmologist in a timely
Keep up the great work and feel free to share your experiences manner. The CPG represents key principles for ongoing care
and best practices with the larger PFC community. of injuries that threaten permanent loss of vision. In keeping
with best PFC efforts in the past 2 years, we expect this CPG
On another front, the long-awaited Special Forces Medical will help guide austere providers globally in the care of this
Sergeant (SFMS) refresher course is now available. The Joint unique population.
Special Operations Medical Training Center at Fort Bragg
will be running the 5-day SFMS Skills Sustainment (SFMS3) Jamie Riesberg, MD, LTC, MC, USA
Courses in conjunction with eight of the 22 Special Opera- Group Surgeon
tions Combat Medic Skills Sustainment Course (SOCMSSC) 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
classes for Fiscal Year 2018 with the intent of expanding to

124