Similar rates of lower limb injuries were observed for all insoles (shock absorbing and non-shock absorbing) in the trial. The trial provides no support for a change in policy to the use of shock absorbing insoles for military recruits.
BackgroundThis article describes a novel patient care algorithm which provides a Role 1 (R1) medic with a structured approach to delivering prolonged field care (PFC) in a resource-limited environment. PFC is a vital component of the operational patient care pathway providing the continuum of care from completion of a primary survey to the delivery to hospital care. Future operational environments are likely to have more fragile or extended lines of communication, potentially delaying evacuation to hospital care. This delay may lead to increases in patient morbidity and mortality. Effective PFC offers an opportunity to improve patient outcomes and help mitigate against this risk.MethodsAn initial prototype model of a PFC care process was developed using existing hospital-based guidance. A series of medical and trauma vignettes and best available evidence were used to refine the algorithm.ResultsThe algorithm has been designed be used in conjunction with patient specific clinical guidance making the approach generalisable for all patient groups. For UK military, clinical guidance is provided by clinical guidelines for operations. The algorithm can be downloaded into a convenient format to be used on mobile devices or printed as an aide memoire.
The ESBA emergency ambulance service responded to double the activations, when compared with 18 years ago, with a significant shift to medical cases over trauma. This ESBA emergency ambulance provides a varied and vital service for the local community that also benefits Defence Medical Services personnel interested in the Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine environment in order to maintain clinical skills and currency for the benefit of future deployments, both humanitarian and kinetic in nature.
This narrative article explores the current and emerging challenges facing the Defence Medical Services in delivering medical care in the face of the changing nature of conflict and the arenas in which they will be conducted. It is likely that there will be a need for the delivery of prolonged field care which will require innovation and research to face the potential challenges facing military pre-hospital care providers. Clinical interventions likely to improve measurable positive patient outcomes are discussed within the context of the current Defence Medical Services research strategy, evidence-based medicine, clinical capability gaps and further research opportunities. The potential benefit of exploiting physiological monitoring technologies to improve patient care and support remote clinical decision-making is presented as a proof of concept research programme.
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