Page 54 - JSOM Summer 2018

and procedures which increased surgical patient throughput. enhanced medical evacuation to higher levels of care in the
SOF medics were integral in bridging the gap between mission AFRICOM area of operations.
requirements and ERST proximity to POI. The SOF medics
further improved tactical utilization of the ERST while acting Disclosures
as liaisons between the ground force commanders and ERST The authors have nothing to disclose.
team lead during mission planning. Medics were also crucially
important in assisting the CRNA in fresh whole blood typing Author Contributions
and blood component logistical planning. Furthermore, dis- SS conceived the study concept, analyzed data, and was pri-
cussions between SOF medics and the ERST enabled the con- mary author. OM assisted in methods development. TF
struction of a utilization algorithm (Figure 2), which assisted assisted in editing and algorithm development. SR and EV as-
mission support planning. Both SOF and ERST members sisted in data acquisition. WB and JM assisted in retrospective
quickly realized that ERST involvement in SOF unit prede- data collection. CC and NP assisted in data acquisition and
ployment training would be invaluable in the future. algorithm development. ME assisted in final edits and discus-
sion. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
The ERST has positively impacted the operational medical
support within AFRICOM. Implementation of the ERST has References
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and effective in reducing the time to life-saving treatment and

52 | JSOM Volume 18, Edition 2/Summer 2018