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43d AES supports Air Force, University of Nebraska research

Air Mobility Command Airmen load a patient into the transportable isolation system during a training event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018.

Air Mobility Command Airmen load a patient into the transportable isolation system during a training event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018. JB Charleston brought in aeromedical evacuation Airmen from Pope Air Field, N.C. and Scott Air Force Base, Ill. because of their prior experience training with the TIS.

An Air Mobility Command Airman carries a gurney during a transportable isolation system training and research event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018.

An Air Mobility Command Airman carries a gurney during a transportable isolation system training and research event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018. Joint Base Charleston hosted members from Air Mobility Command and the University of Nebraska Medical Center for the event where the teams worked to identify and solve problems to further improve the process of using the TIS in a real-world scenario. The TIS, an enclosed negative pressure medical pod with clear walls, is an isolation unit designed to provide in-flight medical care for patients with highly infectious diseases.

Capt. Robyn Fredregill, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse, prepares patients during a transportable isolation system scenario at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018.

Capt. Robyn Fredregill, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse, prepares patients during a transportable isolation system scenario at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018. JB Charleston brought in aeromedical evacuation Airmen from Pope Air Field, N.C. and Scott Air Force Base, Ill. because of their prior experience training with the TIS.

Patient role-players are prepped during a transportable isolation system training and research event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March. 14, 2018.

Patient role-players are prepped during a transportable isolation system training and research event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March. 14, 2018. Joint Base Charleston hosted members from Air Mobility Command and the University of Nebraska Medical Center for the event where the teams worked to identify and solve problems to further improve the process of using the TIS in a real-world scenario. The TIS, an enclosed negative pressure medical pod with clear walls, is an isolation unit designed to provide in-flight medical care for patients with highly infectious diseases.

Airman Helena Owens, 628th Air Base Wing public affairs photojournalist, is prepped as a patient role-player during a transportable isolation system scenario at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018.

Airman Helena Owens, 628th Air Base Wing public affairs photojournalist, is prepped as a patient role-player during a transportable isolation system scenario at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018. Although the TIS could be used in a real scenario today, Air Mobility Command used the training event to look at ways to further improve upcoming versions of the system.

Tech. Sgt. Gregory Izzi, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical technician, prepares the transportable isolation system during a training and research event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018.

Tech. Sgt. Gregory Izzi, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical technician, prepares the transportable isolation system during a training and research event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018. The TIS is an isolation unit for patient care with high level capabilities to contain pathogens. Teams worked together to identify and solve problems to further improve the process of using the TIS in a real-world scenario.

Tech. Sgt. Gregory Izzi, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical technician, is one of several Airmen from Air Mobility Command bases to come to Joint Base Charleston, S.C. for a transportable isolation system training event, March, 14, 2018.

Tech. Sgt. Gregory Izzi, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical technician, is one of several Airmen from Air Mobility Command bases to come to Joint Base Charleston, S.C. for a transportable isolation system training event, March, 14, 2018. Members from Air Mobility Command and the University of Nebraska Medical Center attended the training to help identify and solve problems and find ways to improve the process of using the TIS in a real-world scenario.

Tech. Sgt. Gregory Izzi, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical technician, checks the vital signs of a patient during a transportable isolation system training event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018.

Tech. Sgt. Gregory Izzi, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical technician, checks the vital signs of a patient during a transportable isolation system training event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018. Airmen trained to test the policies and procedures of the TIS to refine future processes.

Tech. Sgt. Gregory Izzi, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical technician, receives instructions for patient care during a transportable isolation system training event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018.

Tech. Sgt. Gregory Izzi, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical technician, receives instructions for patient care during a transportable isolation system training event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018. Airmen trained to test the policies and procedures of the TIS to refine future processes.

2nd Lt. Carlos Hogan, 437th Operations Support Squadron Intelligence officer, is prepped as a volunteer patient during a transportable isolation system training and research event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018.
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2nd Lt. Carlos Hogan, 437th Operations Support Squadron Intelligence officer, is prepped as a volunteer patient during a transportable isolation system training and research event at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., March 14, 2018. The simulated scenario consisted of a flight crew flying into a country to pick up suspected, exposed and confirmed Ebola patients and transporting them back to receive proper care .

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. --

Joint Base Charleston hosted members from Air Mobility Command and the University of Nebraska Medical Center for a transportable isolation system training and research event March 14, 2018. The TIS, an enclosed negative pressure medical pod with clear walls, is an isolation unit designed to provide in-flight medical care for patients with highly infectious diseases.

 

The training helped identify and solve problems and ways to further improve the process of using the TIS in a real-world scenario.

 

“This was part of a joint research project with AMC and the University of Nebraska,” said Maj. Melissa Buzbee-Styles, AMC deputy chief of in-route medical care. “We tested the TIS to ensure the operational policies and procedures work, as well as seeing if the training is set up for success.”

 

Buzbee-Styles, and AMC, hope to conduct simulations in the future while flying for a more realistic evacuation scenario.

 

JB Charleston brought in aeromedical evacuation Airmen from Pope Army Air Field, N.C. and Scott Air Force Base, Ill. because of their prior experience training with the TIS.

 

“We pulled aeromedical evacuation teams from different bases to train them in case they are needed in a real world scenario,” said Staff Sgt. Peter Boyd, 628th Medical Support Squadron biomedical equipment repair technician. “Working together with Airmen from other bases has been great. We’ve all kind of melded together working toward one goal.”

 

Along with other AMC Airmen, members of the University of Nebraska Medical Center staff were on site to assess the training as research to improve the TIS and the transporting process.

 

“The University of Nebraska was joined with AMC in the research process to identify potential redesigns and improvements to the TIS and to refine some of the protocols,” said John Lowe, University of Nebraska Medical Center assistant vice chancellor for health security. “With the experiences we’ve been through we’ve developed a robust knowledge base related to aeromedical isolation care.”

 

During the training, members primarily focused on loading and offloading patients as well as making sure they had everything needed for treatment to keep patients stable during transport.

 

“The scenario consisted of a flight crew flying into an African country to pick up suspected, exposed and confirmed Ebola patients and transporting them back to receive proper medical care,” said Buzbee-Styles. “We want to make sure patients who may have a potentially infectious disease don’t infect the aircraft, crew or medical caregivers.”

 

Along with evacuation protocols, aerosol studies were conducted to verify the TIS was not releasing pathogens into the aircraft.

 

The training is designed to make the system and process smoother and members who work with the TIS are confident it will be a seamless process if needed in the near future.

 

“We could accomplish the mission if the TIS needed to go out tomorrow with wonderful success,” said Capt. Stephen McCrory, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse. “But you can always improve.”

 

According to Buzbee-Styles, JB Charleston was a more than accommodating host for visiting members.

 

“The ground support we’ve gotten here at Charleston has been tremendous,” said Buzbee-Styles. “The 628th Medical Group is a true supporter of this mission.”

 

With all the work put in during the event, the results could shape the future of in-flight medical care.

 

“It’s a tedious, but worthy process,” said McCrory. “It’s like building a cathedral. Is it hard, yes, but you’re building something so much bigger than yourself and that’s what being in the military is all about.”