Ten Years of En Route Critical Care Training.
OBJECTIVE
The French Military Health Service (FMHS) has developed a training program for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) of critical care patients on fixed wing aircraft.


METHODS
We conducted a 10-year retrospective analysis (2006-2015) of the data from the FMHS Academy. The number of trainees was listed according to the different courses and medical specialties. The number of MEDEVACs recorded during the period was described.


RESULTS
Since 2006, the FMHS has developed training courses designed for MEDEVAC of critical care patients. Forty-five collective strategic MEDEVAC courses were delivered to 91 intensivists, 130 anesthetic nurses, 79 flight surgeons, 55 flight nurses, and 89 nurses. Five sessions of tactical MEDEVAC courses were performed for 14 flight surgeons, 6 flight nurses, and 17 other nurses. Ten sessions of individual strategic MEDEVAC courses were delivered to 17 intensivists, 10 flight surgeons, 21 flight nurses, and 7 other nurses. Between 2006 and 2015, 818 (± 68) individual strategic MEDEVACs were performed per year. Thirty-three (± 19) concerned critical care patients. Five missions of collective strategic MEDEVAC were performed for 56 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The FMHS has developed specific courses for the MEDEVAC of critical care patients, allowing the training of numerous MEDEVAC teams.
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, Clamart, France. Electronic address: mathieuboutonnet@hotmail.com.
Mathieu
M
Boutonnet
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, Clamart, France; 14th Airborne Forward Surgical Team, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, Clamart, France.
Pierre
P
Pasquier
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Bégin Military Teaching Hospital, Saint-Mandé, France.
Laurent
L
Raynaud
Air Forces Command, Mérignac, France.
Laurent
L
Vitiello
Operational Headquarters of the French Military Health Service, Paris, France.
Jérôme
J
Bancarel
French Military Health Service Academy, Paris, France.
Sébastien
S
Coste
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, Clamart, France.
Guillaume Pelée
GP
de Saint Maurice
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, Clamart, France.
Sylvain
S
Ausset
D017732:Air Ambulances; D003422:Critical Care; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000193:education*; D004501:Education, Medical; D004506:Education, Nursing; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000193:education*; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists / Q000193:education; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014187:Transportation of Patients