Corpsmen Graduate From Hospital Trauma Training

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Fernand Defante (right) answers instructors questions during Navy Medicine's Hospital Corpsman Trauma Training program at Naval Hospital Jacksonville. All images: US Navy

Sixteen hospital corpsmen from across the US Navy graduatedfrom Navy Medicine’s Hospital Corpsman Trauma Training program at NavalHospital Jacksonville. This is the second evolution at NH Jacksonville, theNavy’s second site to host the program.

The corpsmen received two weeks of training at NHJacksonville (including simulation labs and a Tactical Combat Casualty Carecourse), followed by five weeks at University of Florida Health Jacksonville (aLevel I trauma center), with rotations in the emergency department, traumaresuscitation, intensive care unit and wound management.

The corpsmen, who have already served one tour at a military treatment facility (after completing Navy Hospital Corps “A” School), will serve next with an operational unit, such as a Marine Corps unit or Navy ship.

The program provides enhanced real-world trauma experiencefor Navy hospital corpsmen, who provide life-saving care to sailors and Marinesin the field.

Hospitalman Nathalyn Rosales (in the dark blue scrubs), a sailor participating in Navy Medicine's Hospital Corpsman Trauma Training, observes a procedure at UF Health Jacksonville's emergency department.

“With this program, we increase the ability of hospitalcorpsmen assigned to operational units across the Navy and Marine Corps, tosave lives at sea, in the air and on land,” said Capt. Matthew Case, commander,NH Jacksonville and commanding officer, Navy Medicine Readiness and TrainingCommand Jacksonville.

“This course has exposed me to real-life scenarios that I’llbe expected to assess and treat on my own when I’m down range with my Marines,”said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Henry Branham, who is headed to 11th MarineExpeditionary Unit at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.  “Because of this training, I’m confident thatI’ll be able to provide the best medical care to my Marines when they need it.”

“I’m going to a Navy destroyer next, and many sailors willcount on me to provide exceptional care. This life-saving course will make me abetter corpsman,” noted Hospitalman Nathalyn Rosales.  She has orders to USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG108).

The Hospital Corpsman Trauma Training program furthers the Navy surgeon general’s goal to achieve maximum future life-saving capabilities and survivability along the continuum of care.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Henry Branham (right), a sailor participating in Navy Medicine's Hospital Corpsman Trauma Training, works with a patient at UF Health Jacksonville.

The training partnership includes Navy Medicine, NavyMedicine Operational Training Center, NH Jacksonville and NMRTC Jacksonville,and UF Health.

The first site to host this Navy Medicine program, launched in fall 2017, was Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center and John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County (located in Chicago, Illinois).  Naval Hospital Jacksonville will host its next class in October.

Source: US Navy