A Direct Observational Study Evaluating Prehospital Medical Documentation of a Simulated Combat Casualty by Military Medical Providers

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2015-03

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Mott, Jeffrey
McGarry, Adam B.
Kotwal, Russ S.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: In order to reduce preventable prehospital death on the battlefield there needs to be an increase in prehospital medical documentation. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a lack of training on utilizing Department of the Army Form 7656/Tactical Combat Casualty Care card during pre-deployment medical training at Tactical Combat Medical Care course, at the Center for Predeployment Medicine and the AMEDD Center and School. This form captures prehospital injury and intervention data from point of injury to definitive medical treatment. METHODS: A direct observational study of prehospital medical documentation was conducted on simulated Combat Casualties by Military Medical Providers, utilizing Department of the Army Form 7656/Tactical Combat Casualty Care card. Completion of one form during trauma lane training, per simulated combat casualty satisfied the inclusion criteria for qualitative results. Our hypothesis was there is no training deficit on Department of the Army Form 7656/Tactical Combat Casualty Care card at Tactical Combat Medical Care course. RESULTS: During the period studied, every other week over four months January – April 2013, 130 Department of the Army (DA) Form 7656/Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) cards were collected and evaluated from 131 simulated combat casualties. The quantity of the form completed was 99.20% with an accuracy of completed prehospital medical documentation at 80.70%. CONCLUSION: Leaders enforcing standards will be the driving force for increased prehospital medical documentation. This study demonstrates there is not a lack of training at Tactical Combat Medical Care course on completing Department of the Army Form 7656/Tactical Combat Casualty Care card. Keywords: DA Form 7656, Prehospital Medical documentation, Prehospital battlefield death.

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