Nobel laureate, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, once said "Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought."
Soldiers and staff at William Beaumont Army Medical Center were able to appreciate Gyorgyi's philosophy during WBAMC's annual Research Day, June 1. The presentations showcased various research projects undertook by students, staff, and other personnel over the past year at WBAMC.
"It's the only real way to improve," said Capt. Zebulon Wilkin, emergency medicine physician assistant resident. "There are areas we can improve in; the best way to do it is through research projects."
Like Gyorgyi, who is known for research and discoveries in connection with the now-popular vitamin C, researchers formulated hypothesis for best practices. Projects ranged from process improvement to cancer prevention.
"It's crucial for the Graduate Medical Education residences because they're new docs coming up in the field," said Col. Richard Petri, Jr., chief of Clinical Investigations, WBAMC. "Research teaches you how to think critically."
At the conclusion of the Research Day, top presenters in two categories were recognized as well as the staff and trainee researcher of the year.
Wilkin, a native of Deming, New Mexico, was recognized as the trainee researcher of the year and placed first in podium presentations.
Wilkin's project, "Video Discharge Instructions: Helping Patients Leave Informed," focused on improving patient comprehension of emergency room discharge instructions through visual instruction on top of verbal and written discharge instruction. Results were measured with a survey after discharge to check for comprehension.
Capt. Jerimiah Walker, also an emergency medicine physician assistant resident, placed first in the second category, poster presentations.
Walker's research measured the effects a regulated Bag Valve Mask (BVM), a hand-held device combat medics use to resuscitate patients who are not breathing. Currently, combat medics use BVMs which are not regulated. This increases chances of accidental hyperventilating due to operator inconsistency, a regulated BVM would prevent such inconsistencies.
"It can potentially kill the patient by breathing too fast for them," said Walker, a native of Beckley, West Virginia. "It's supposed to be five to six seconds per breath but when you're all hyped up, six seconds is a really long time."
Whether it's helping patients understand how to self-care after discharge or helping medics with treating patients more efficiently, the wide assortment of research helps progress Army Medicine health care.
"By going through the process of developing your own research it opens up your eyes," said Walker. "I was better able to critically read research that others do and understand it."
For Wilkins, research is not just educating, but progressing.
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