Aero Rating: FS CC CAS CFM SAS Member of Society of USAF FS: yes no
FS = Flight Surgeon, not otherwise specified ACLS Certified: yes no Current Until:
CC = Clinic Commander ATLS Certified: yes no Current Until:
CFM = Chief Flight Med Trauma Med experience: yes no
CAS = Chief Aeromed Services Air Evac Experience: yes no
SAS = State Air Surgeon Comments:
Mail to: Col Annette Sobel, NM ANGP. O. Box 1507, Tijeras NM 87059-1507
The sages say, “All good things must come to an end.” On September 21st I will say my final good-byes to the Air National Guard Readiness Center, and wind on down San Antonio way. I greatly appreciate the opportunity I had to go through the RAM, and to serve as ANG/SGP. I will remember fondly the many friends I have made through the Air National Guard. I am continually impressed with the considerable talent I see within the ANG medical service. I continually tout this to my active duty colleagues. There are resources here, when tapped, that can clearly take the mission (whatever that might be) over the top. Significant challenges remain. I hope I have I have begun to address some of these. But, much work remains to be done. If you will permit, I will share some of my perspectives on some of the important work yet to be done. Operations tempo—our medics, in particular, are over-committed to real world, ongoing missions. I have no problem filling Antarctic deployment slots, but we have frequent problems supporting Prince Sultan, Oman, Curacao and other missions. I continue to explain to our ADAF counterparts that busy physicians in private practice cannot just drop everything at the last minute to volunteer for deployment. They do not appreciate how difficult it is for civilian practitioners to leave high overhead practices for many weeks each year. We need to give consideration to alternative modes of deployment—longer periods less frequently; using real-world experience and deployment to satisfy training requirements, etc. Air Force/ANG-specific professional activities—we need to ensure that all of our practitioners are fully familiar with AFI 48-123, the ANG/SGPS & SGPA Consolidated Memorandum, Line of Duty regulations, etc. to enable them to be accurate advisors to the line commanders and ANG members. ANG/SGP is exploring a web-based worldwide duty evaluation system that will be dependent on a detailed narrative summary incorporating medical documentation. We will not be able to make accurate Worldwide Duty Medical Evaluation (waiver) determinations without this. Likewise, State Air Surgeons will need to be sure they are performing required SAVs to their various state organizations, GSU, SME, AES, and MDS units. State Air Surgeons must keep up on their required training so they may certify and waiver members appropriately. Physical examinations—ANG/SGP is hoping a web-based Reserve Component Periodic Health Assessment (RCPHA) will receive financial support to allow medical units to identify disqualifying medical conditions before members deploy, and to streamline the physical examination process. Cats & dogs—DCS treatment/hyperbaric support, flight surgeon flying opportunities, flight surgeon sustainment training, medically and dentally uninsured ANG members and inappropriate use of LOD, FC-I/IA accession and MFS disqualification, access to Tri-Care for AGR members. These are just a few issues being worked by ANG/SGP. Dr. William (Buck) Dodson will become ANG Chief of Aerospace Medicine (SGP) sometime later in the year. In the interim, Dr. Philip Lanham will be at the helm. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be your Chief of Aerospace Medicine. What this office does is important. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with a stellar line-up in our section, as well. My hat is off to the hard working folks of SGPA/SGPS: Mr. Jack Vasura, MSgt Tammy Simpson, MSgt John Cherry, MSgt Karin Arnold (now of NGB/CF), and Dr. Lanham. We have also had a host of visiting individuals of the field who have helped to make this office really work. I have been fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to continue to work in the aerospace medicine arena in another RAM assignment at Brooks Air Force Base. On October 1st, I will assume the position of Chief of Aerospace Medicine at Air Force Research Lab/HEP. Facing an entirely new challenge, I will medically monitor sustained operations, altitude chamber and centrifuge experiments. My new office contact will be: Carol S. Ramsey
AFRL/HEP
2504 Gillingham Drive, Suite 25
Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5104
(210) 536-4775/2742
DSN 240-4775/2742
Fax -2761 E-mail: carol.ramsey@brooks.af.mil
E-mail (home): csramsey@juno.com Thanks for all your support over the past three years.
Carol S. Ramsey
(Carol, it’s truly been a pleasure—wishing you the best in your new position--WWP, editor)
From the Director
Col Steve Meigs
Director, Medical Operations
DSN 246-2426, stephen.meigs@kafb.saia.af.mil
By now most of you have heard about our "new" process for providing oversight to medical treatment facilities called Sustained Performance Odyssey (SPO). I have "new" in quotation marks to highlight that while this way of doing business in new to us, it is not an original idea, as Col Don Geeze points out in his superb article on "Sustained Performance Odyssey" in this edition of the Medical IG Crosstalk. Our intent with SPO is to put the emphasis on mission readiness and accomplishment vice inspection preparedness, which is where we believe we have drifted to over the years. We know and appreciate how busy you are at the MTF and our hope is that by shifting to a short notice inspection/survey process, you will spend less time preparing for inspection; thereby decreasing the impact oversight has on you and your mission. Our underlying assumption in this was that on any given day, all AF MTFs could successfully pass a Health Services Inspection (HSI) and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organization's survey. We believe this assumption to be true based on our value system and culture, and most importantly -- our confidence in the outstanding professionals of the Air Force Medical Service. We demonstrated this concept at three MTFs in July and August, and all three facilities passed with flying colors. As a result of this success, and with the approval of The Inspector General and the AFMS senior leadership, we will implement SPO for all active duty facilities effective 1 January 2001. See Col Geeze's article for more information on SPO.
In a complementary initiative, we have also taken steps to de-stigmatize the HSI rating system. In an AF, where "excellence" is a core value, it sent the wrong message for a good facility to receive a "Satisfactory" on an important inspection like the HSI. Given the challenge and difficulty of a HSI, we knew that "Satisfactory" was a good grade, but still represented a disconnect in our culture. We also knew from our experience, that many times the only thing that separated an "Excellent" facility from a "Satisfactory" facility was one point - and that from our perspective, there was not that much, if any difference in the two facilities. To remove this ambiguity and to put the right focus on the inspection process, we decided to change our rating system from the traditional 5-tiered (Outstanding through Unsatisfactory) to a 3-tiered system (Mission Ready - Mission Ready, with exception - Not Mission Ready). Again, our intent is to shift the emphasis away from the "inspection as beauty contest" and toward inspection as an accurate gauge of your mission effectiveness. We will still provide a numerical score that represents the facilities' degree of compliance with HSI criteria and provides some comparability among facilities. Under this system, units scoring 77-100 will be rated Mission Ready; 70-76 - Mission Ready With Exception (meaning that while the unit is overall mission ready, deficiencies in management severely impact effectiveness and demand immediate attention; and those scoring 69 or less will be rated Not Mission Ready. This change was effective 1 Sep 00 for both active and reserve component units.
We know these initiatives represent significant changes in the oversight system, and we believe they are changes for the better. We will do our utmost to limit any impact these changes may have on your facility and stand ready to address any questions or concerns you may have in that regard. Please feel free to contact me (DSN246-2426; email - stephen.meigs@kafb.saia.af.mil) or anyone in the Medical Operations Directorate for assistance. I hope you find this edition of the Crosstalk useful.
(After 2 trips and 3 presentations this week. Col Edith Mitchell is understandably beat but still able give us an update Thanks, WWP, Editor) AMC Update
Gen Charles Robertson is now the COMAMC and is a great supporter of the Guard and Reserve. The second in command is Lt Gen Ronald Marcotte. Another very prominent face is Maj Gen Joseph Simeone, ANG Assistant to the COMAMC.
The Medical Service Leadership has also recently changed. Maj Gen Lee Rodgers has been assigned as the Commander of Wilford Hall Medical Center. He was replaced by Brig Gen James Roudebush. With this leadership team the Guard and Reserve will definitely have an increased visibility and presence in AMC.
Medical Response to Chemical
Warfare and Terrorism 2000
Live Satellite Broadcast
Sponsored by the U.S. Army Medical Command
5, 6, and 7 December 2000
1230 to 1630 Eastern Standard Time (EST)
For more information visit
http://ccc.apgea.army.mil
Alliance of ANG Flight Surgeons
30th Anniversary Dinner.
Tuesday night, November 7, 2000
Nellis AFB Officers’ Club
Attire: Mess Dress or Class A uniform.
(Busses will pick up at both Balleys and the Hilton at 6:30pm for transport.)
Thank you, Merck
At the AANGFS Meeting in November, the membership elected to pursue sponsorship for the AANGFS Newsletter, but no advertising would be allowed. Gerry Harmon solicited such support from Merck & Company. Their donation defrays the publication and mailing costs. They have been very professional and non-directing in their support.
So next time you see your Merck Representatives, please take a moment to talk to them and thank them for their support.
(Thanks, WWP, ed.)
2000-2001 ICE3 Flight Surgeons
The 2000-2001ICE3 physician deployers have been selected. Only six slots were available for new candidates, as the first person going down for the season and the second deployer in January must be an individual who are familiar with McMurdo Clinic operations.
As usual, we have a stellar line-up of talent. They include the following participants:
Lt Col Chris Benjamin, will participate in ICE3during the period of 22 Oct 00-11 Nov 00. An active duty Air Force RAM and board certified family practitioner; Chris first supported McMurdo Clinic during the 1997-98 season. He is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, NV.
Lt Col Les Folio will deploy from 12 Nov 00-25 Nov 00, following his participation in an international conference on tele-radiology in New Zealand. He is an active duty member in the 3rd year of the Air Force RAM program, and a board certified radiologist. He is also a commercial and multi-engine rated pilot.
Col John McGoff will be on the Ice from 26 Nov 00 to 16 Dec 00. An ANG flight surgeon and emergency room physician, he is a Medical Squadron Commander of the 181st MDS, Indiana ANG. He is also the elected coroner for the city of Indianapolis.
Lt Col Jeffrey Jones will deploy from 17 Dec 00 to 1 Jan 01. Jeff, a frequent speaker at AsMA with more than 83 publications to his credit, is a US Navy flight surgeon who participates with the 147th MDS in Houston. He is a board certified aerospace medicine specialist who works full time at NASA in support of the shuttle crews. He is also a board certified urologist and on the faculty of Baylor University.
Lt Col John Lewis will greet the New Year en route to Antarctica for his McMurdo deployment of 1 Jan 01 through 20 Jan 01. He is the Arizona State Air Surgeon. He was an F-4 pilot for a number of years prior to attending medical school. He is an emergency room physician at St. Mary’s Hospital in Tucson.
Lt Col Michael Miller previously supported Operation Deep Freeze in October 1998. This year he will be on the Ice from 21 Jan 01 to 3 Feb 01. He is a flight surgeon with the 157th MDS in New Hampshire. His civilian practice is in diagnostic radiology. He also holds a Ph.D. in physics and is a private pilot with instrument and glider ratings.
Col Ron Kirshling will work alongside Dr. Miller in the McMurdo Clinic from 21 Jan to 3 February 01. A graduate of the Air Force Academy, his civilian practice is hematology and oncology. He is a flight surgeon with the 148th MDS, Minnesota Air National Guard.
LtCol Jerry Fenwick will wrap up the austral summer season during his 4 Feb 01 to 24 Feb 01 deployment. He was an active duty Army physician for many years prior to joining the 169th MDS, South Carolina Air National Guard. He completed the AMP course in May 1998. His civilian practice is emergency medicine. Dr. Fenwick is a student pilot and an advanced/rescue diver.
(From an excellent psychiatrist and flight surgeon comes a very valuable letter that provides guidance on the problem of psychotropic medication use by Guardsman—WWP, editor) Dear Editor: - Here is a brief re psych meds; I have drafted two letters, one to FPs, the other to psychiatrists regarding psychotropic. Note that they are readily usable, with the substitution of the ANG unit, individual's name etc. Alternatively, you may ask members to contact me via email and I will forward the requested document out to them.
Psychotropic Medication, Psychiatric Diagnoses
ANG members are, in increasing numbers, indicating through the Annual Medical Certificate, AF 895, or at their Periodic Exams, that they are on psychotropic medication.
This brief article is intended to give you a "head's up" about these medications, diagnoses, and AFI 48-123. Also, you may wish to reference the Consolidated Memorandum, SG 00-019, just published (p. 20-21).
In general, I'd recommend profiling, as S-4T, all individuals presenting on any psychiatric medication, or a medicine used for a psychiatric purpose, pending the receipt and review of relevant clinical records.
Although it is the medicine that may have triggered the new profile, it is the underlying psychiatric diagnosis that is of concern.
I've attached/made available letters, which I've drafted, to the prescribing physician requesting specific information relevant to performing a Worldwide Duty Medical Evaluation. Feel free to use or amend the letter(s) as you feel appropriate.
Hang-ups: Some individuals, placed by their Family Physician on a psychotropic, may not have an actual psychiatric diagnosis. It is critical that you obtain the FP's records, and where there is a question of diagnosis, refer the individual for a psychiatric evaluation. Again, you may use a letter I've prepared requesting that an evaluation be performed.
In general, depressive episodes of a least moderate severity, lasting a year or longer, one's which require "chronic" antidepressant medication, or episodes involving a recent psych admission or suicide attempt, will probably lead to disqualification. All ANG members with Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive illness) or a psychotic spectrum disorder (examples: Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder with Psychotic or Delusional Symptoms) will lead to disqualification.
If you do have questions regarding psychotropic meds (guidelines for their use, typical duration of use), or diagnoses, please feel free to email me at rkarp@defnet.com.
Robert Karp, LtCol, MC, SFS, INANG Alliance of ANG Flight Surgeons
Newsletter This newsletter is published two or three times annually by the Alliance of Air National Guard Flight Surgeons. Articles for inclusion are solicited from members and guest authors. Material for publication can be sent to:
LtCol William W. Pond
4414 Trierwood Park Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46815
Email: wwpond@aol.com
Viewpoints expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent official positions of the Alliance, the Air National Guard, the United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense. Letters may be edited for grammar, spelling or length, but not content.
William W. Pond
Editor and Publisher
Letters
To The
Editor Two Cents from the Editor Welcome to the place for Air National Guard Flight Surgeons to share stories, vent opinions, pass along sage wisdom and pay tribute to those who have advanced aerospace medicine.
This publication fills a specific need for active flight surgeons, imparting information and discussion that we would probably share at an informal gathering as colleagues
I, the editor, am answerable to the Board of Governors and you, the membership. Although I try to get as much input and proof reading as possible prior to publication, any errors or omission (even though unintentional) are mine.
William W. Pond, Editor
LtCol, MC, SFS, INANG (Great Guard PR, editor)
Dr. Karp has provided a sample letter that is very helpful (ed).
SUBJECT: Guardsman Name
Dear Dr. Member’s Physician: Guardsman Name is a member of the state Air National Guard, unitWing, is on medication name prescribed by you.
Psychiatric medications automatically disqualify an individual from being deployed worldwide. The ability to be sent anywhere in the world, at a moment's notice, is the key element to an Air National Guard (ANG) unit.
Current ANG policy requires that an individual with a serious psychiatric disorder, for example, a mood disorder, any psychosis, or any other disorder requiring treatment longer than one year, be evaluated for disqualification from worldwide duty. Any individual on psychiatric medication is immediately disqualified pending further evaluation by ANG physicians. In addition, if the individual cannot function, off of psychiatric medication, they will be disqualified.
(This portion is then tailored to the prescribing physician with more specific psychiatric questions being addressed if the treating physician is a psychiatrist.) To the Family Physician: In order to help us in evaluating your patient, please provide us with the following information:
1. When did you first prescribe the medication?
2. Why did you prescribe it? Please list the indication and DSM IV diagnosis.
3. What do you recommend the duration of use of the medication(s)?
4. What are the possible consequences if your patient stops his/her medication before your recommended date of discontinuation?
To the Psychiatrist: Please review the attached documents and perform a psychiatric evaluation. If you've already performed a psychiatric evaluation on Guardsman Name please send a copy to us.
I would appreciate it if you would respond to the following questions:
1. What do you believe to be this individual's DSM IV diagnosis, on Axis I and Axis II? Please list criteria met for each DSM IV diagnosis.
2. What are your recommendations as to medication(s) and/or psychotherapy? Please specify your recommendations as to the duration of treatment and the use of their medication.
3. Do you feel this individual may be at risk of self-harm or harm to others?
4. What was your patient's global assessment of functioning prior to initiation of medication as well as currently?
5. Do you recommend any restrictions as to work, stress, or nighttime duties? Or of carrying a weapon?
6. What are the possible consequences if your patient stops his/her medication early, that is, prior to your recommended date of discontinuation?
Due to the specific criteria for qualifying an individual for worldwide deployment, it is critical for you to answer all the above questions in their entirety.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact my office: Technician Name at xxx-xxxx. Our fax is xxx-xxxx. My email is e-mail address.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Flight Surgeon Name
The AANGFS Nominating Committee Chairman, Col Phil Steeves, is pleased to submit the following slate for the Board of Governors, two-year term 2001/02:
· Col Mike Brothers, LA
· Lt Col Jim Chow, SC
· Lt Col Vince Dang, CA
· Lt Col Bruce Guerdan, PA
· Lt Col Bill Pond,
· Col Chad Wood, TN
· Lt Col Brett Wyrick, HI
Write in: __________________
(Voting may be done at the AANGFS meeting at AMSUS or by returning this ballot to the AANGFS Secretary: Col John McGoff, IN ANG, 6431 Creekside Lane, Indianapolis IN 46220-4308)
(FYI, Current and three immediate past presidents)
o Lt Col Clee Lloyd, OR
o Col Phil Steeves, MA
o Col Richard Terry, TN
o Col Bob Janco, TN
Professional corps representatives:
· Col Carol Ann Fausone, NC
· Lt Col Sallie Worcester, MSC
· Lt Col Norman Schneider, BEE/PH
- Guy Bilek, DC
Off to a running start…My move back to DC has been both hectic and exciting. As a corporation, the Air National Guard is facing new challenges: fitting into the Air Expeditionary Force (AEF), trying to get our arms around the Homeland Defense mission, exploring humanitarian missions in the developing world, and trying to save some “aerospace” in the Air National Guard. It has been years since we had Unit Manning Documents (UMDs) in our ANG Medical Service, which filled requirements of the Air Force. Now, as Total Force Assessment (TFA) faces us in the coming months, the threat of losing manpower and resources is real. We are still configured for the extinct Air Transportable Hospital (ATH) platform, and aeromedical evacuation is downsizing system-wide. Without filling wartime requirements, we become irrelevant to the CINCs and the wartime planners. So, where and how does the rudder begin to turn this ship? Your staff at the ANG Readiness Center has done a lot of significant strategic planning. Tactical intervention and aggressive repositioning of our assets are now required to bring us out of Cold War configuration.
General Weaver, our Director, states clearly that future manpower in the ANG is based on our responsiveness and our utilization in the AEF. The AEF has been a difficult experience for us. Two-week rotations to Southwest Asia are hard to manage because of distance. The Active Component (AC) leadership in the theater has not been entirely happy about two-week rotations. They have complained bitterly about no-shows, members without the skills to “come up to speed” in such a short period, and lack of continuity. Although there are problems, we must continue to look for solutions, which make us useful and usable in this environment. In accordance with the Goldwater-Nichols Doctrine, we are the force providers. The CINCs are tasked with establishing theater wartime requirements. How do we better fit those requirements? Exploration of the feasibility of legislation allowing our members to receive “two good years” credit for volunteering to deploy one month every other year, instead of two weeks per year, is one avenue that I would like to pursue. I am looking for help from each of you to find other suggestions and alternatives.
Not since the War of 1812 has our homeland been threatened, but a read of Biohazard will water your eyes with the description of what author/Soviet defector Ken Alibek and his scientists had prepared for the United States. The intelligence community has convinced Congress and our leadership that the “next war” is domestic terrorism. Our State mission, which has been vague in the Air Guard, now is beginning to take shape as Congress looks for military support for civilian authorities in addressing this looming threat. We are looking for ways that our forthcoming manning documents can reflect this new mission. After all, we “bluesuiters” are essentially the ONLY medical force in the National Guard. Long ago, the Army Guard traded most of its medical assets for a helo mission. With the Civil Support Teams (CSTs) now established in 27 States, perhaps medical augmentation to these largely Army-green units is a realistic and challenging State mission we can assume.
Our unit/base support mission also needs considerable update and refurbishment. We have never provided formal training courses for our health technicians, the backbone of our organization. AMSUS this year will begin a focus on training health technicians and traditional Guardfolk who support the work our health technicians perform during the week. This will be part of a larger HI-TECH program for our health technicians I will discuss at AMSUS. As a change in AMSUS format, benchmark programs from six ANG medical units will be presented, discussed, demonstrated and packaged for “home use”. Providing programs and resources for units to share and demonstrating their use may make AMSUS into a more useful experience for our units. Along these same lines, we are beginning to push hard for the establishment of a formal third health technician position in each unit. BGen (sel) Gerry Harmon carried the flag to NGAUS and successfully passed – UNAMIMOUSLY- a resolution, the only medical resolution at NGAUS, supporting the third technician position. Each year, more programs are deposited on our doorstep. This year the annual dental exam, the new fitness program, the drug testing program and the deployment surveillance (enhanced) program are knocking at our doors. We simply cannot accept more work without the manpower to perform the jobs.
We have a crisis in our system” an acceleration of marginal/unsat or, in the new vernacular, “not mission ready” ratings on our unit inspections. Seemingly, units receive either VERY high marks or they fail. There is little between these extremes. The establishment of a STANEVAL shop, SGO, in our ANGRC office will focus on the inspection issues. Col Sylvia Nye is our STANEVAL Chief. CMSgt Rick Boyle, joining us fresh from the HSI team, and SMSgt Duane Volk will be begin looking at methods of improving our preparation for these inspections. In line with the Air Force’s decision to move toward “no notice inspections”---NO, WE HAVEN’T BOUGHT THIS PROGRAM – we will begin to implement tools that support a measurement of “sustained performance”. Rather than waiting to identify units which need help after an unsuccessful inspection, we want to begin to identify units with need early, so that our team can provide resources before the tree falls. Concurrently, we want to look at those inspectable goalposts to which we are held and help determine if those are truly measures of our ability to perform our tasks.
Aerospace Medicine, or our mission participation as flight docs …where are we going? The flow of “tubs” in the fighter community to the schoolhouses limits our docs’ ability to fly. There are no magic answers. I cannot buy two-seat planes for our docs to fly…we medics don’t own any iron. Good news--- Eagle (F-15) Top Knife has opened at Klamath Falls. After a hiatus during the transition in KFalls from the F-16 to the F-15, the first sustainable Eagle Top Knife program is off to a fine start. South, near the Mexican border, we are birthing a new Viper Top Knife. The 149th FW, a new Air Guard Schoolhouse at Kelly Air Force Base, has agreed to host a Top Knife Program. It is fitting that this unit, MGen Whinnery’s home Guard unit, will become a Center of Excellence for Fighter Aviation Medicine. Although Gen Whinnery will retire in November at Bolling AFB, his legacy will live on with us…and we hope that his presence will continue to support us with the wealth of knowledge and experience he has brought us all. Lt Col (Dr) Buck Dodson, the incoming SGP at the Readiness Center, is busily working with the Residency in Aerospace Medicine (RAM) to produce a Top Knife Center at Kelly – a forum to sponsor new Top Knife initiatives, keep the curriculum current, and mentor flight surgeons in the art and science of high-performance aviation.
As Buck Dodson joins our Andrews staff in February 01, he will bring with him a wealth of knowledge about the brand new Developmental Center for Operational Medicine (DCOM) in San Antonio, experience in Homeland Defense mission planning, and, hopefully, the beginnings of a new Top Knife in Texas. While Buck is helping build the future of Aerospace and Air Guard Medicine in San Antonio, Maj (Dr) Phil Lanham is holding the reins in the SGP shop at ANGRC.
Lt Col Ramsey has now moved to Brooks AFB, where those of you privileged to ride the centrifuge will find her. Major Lanham will guide us skillfully through this transition, as we build a dynamic new shop in SGP.
Clearly, the road is long and there are many more challenges than I have the space to enumerate here. I am excited about the future, motivated by our leadership under MGen Weaver and LGen Carlton to become more relevant to the Nation we serve and energized by you – OUR FORCE – still the brain trust and the powerhouse to make the Air National Guard Medical Service the best in the world. My door is open and I remain ever cognizant of my Guard roots. Let’s work hard together to build the kind of force and the type of program that will carry us well into the new Millennium.
Randy
RANDALL M. FALK
Colonel, USAF, MC, CFS
The Air Surgeon
National Guard Bureau
FLASH………The latest on the For the past 5 years AFRC has given a Flight Surgeon Sustainment Training Course with help from USUHS in the spring at Bethesda, MD. A meeting at the School of Aerospace Medicine was held to discuss flight surgeon training requirements, TAOS, AFSC privileges and other issues. Phil Lanham and Bruce Guerdan represented the ANG. We concluded that the USAFSAM should take over the training. Lt. Col Donald R. Yoho is the POC for the TAOS-AM Sustainment Course. His e-mail address is: Robert.Yoho@brooks.af.mil. The U&TW and USAFSAM TAOS working group came up with the following plan. TAOS will be scheduled for 5-9 Mar 01 at USAFSAM with the draft agenda as follows:
Mon (3/5): ------- AD Flight Surgeons
Tues (3/6): ------ ARC AD Flight Surgeons
PM Mini Course such as Aerospace Medicine Sustainment Course (for ANG, AFRC, & AD)
Wed (3/7): ----- Aerospace Medicine Sustainment Course (AMSC)
Thurs (3/8): ----- AMSC
Fri (3/9): --------- AM: AMSC
PM AD Flight Surgeons TAOS wrap up
(I am not sure if ANG and AD will be included in this wrap up but if not we will supplement. We will probably add the 8 hours of clinical medicine in 4 hour blocks before {Tues AM} and after {Fri PM} for 8 more hours of CME). This would total 24 hours of CME for AD FS and 32 hours for ARC. ARC and TAOS AD attendance at the ATLS (if it can be arranged)/ACLS on weekend 10-11 Mar 01. This would make a total of 6 days of intensive training and fill most of the sustainment training squares. Hotel accommodations will be at the St. Francis by the Riverwalk with overflow at the Gunter. (Rate will be per diem) Buses will be available for transportation to Brooks and BAMC.
Patricia A. Nell, M.D HQ AFRC/SGP DSN 497-1886, (912) 327-1886
Colonel, USAF, MC, CFS 155 Second Street FAX 327-0610
Chief, Aerospace Medicine Division Robins AFB, GA 31098-1635 pat.nell@afrc.af.mil (PS. If you are interested in ATLS or ACLS as an Instructor or Student, please let me know.)
LtCol William W. Pond, SFS, INANG
4414 Trierwood Park Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46815
Year AsMAAMSUS 2000 14-18 May, Houston, TX 5-10 Nov, Las Vegas, NV
2001 6-10 May, Reno, NV 4-9 Nov, San Antonio, TX
2002 5-9 May, Montreal, Quebec 10-15 Nov, Louisville, KY
504 Gillingham Drive, Suite 25
ttp://ccc.apgea.army.mil
r. Karp has provided a sample letter that is very helpful (ed).
Col Mike Brothers, LA
ff to a running start…My move back to DC has been both hectic and exciting. As a corporation, the Air National Guard is facing new challenges: fitting into the Air Expeditionary Force (AEF), trying to get our arms around the Homeland Defense mission, exploring humanitarian missions in the developing world, and trying to save some “aerospace” in the Air National Guard. It has been years since we had Unit Manning Documents (UMDs) in our ANG Medical Service, which filled requirements of the Air Force. Now, as Total Force Assessment (TFA) faces us in the coming months, the threat of losing manpower and resources is real. We are still configured for the extinct Air Transportable Hospital (ATH) platform, and aeromedical evacuation is downsizing system-wide. Without 
