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Lithuanian Military Medical Service welcomes US medical professionals to share critical medical knowledge

By Sgt. April BensonOctober 17, 2022

Lithuanian Military Medical Service welcomes US medical professionals to share critical knowledge
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Nathan Boyer and Sgt. 1st Class Elena Chung observe Lithuanian medics ambulatory medical equipment in Kaunas, Lithuania, 22 September, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Kary LeBlanc) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lithuanian Military Medical Service welcomes US medical professionals to share critical knowledge
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lithuanian nurses Karile Vasilianuskiene and Staff Sgt. Adrone Vasiliauskaite practice tactical field care on a simulated casualty during a trauma lane in Kaunas, Lithuania, 22 September, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Elena Chung) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lithuanian Military Medical Service welcomes US medical professionals to share critical knowledge
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lithuanian paramedics Staff Sgt. Eimantas Augunas and Staff Sgt. Zydrunas Zajanckauskas move a simulated casualty during a trauma lane in Kaunas, Lithuania, 22 September, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Elena Chung) VIEW ORIGINAL

KAUNAS, Lithuania - The Lithuanian Military Medical Service welcomed a team of four U.S. Army medical professionals to share knowledge on medical logistics and conduct a medical simulation in Kaunas, Lithuania, from 19-23 September. The global health engagement enabled soldiers from multiple nations to act coherently and effectively to achieve strategic and tactical objectives regarding the care of wounded battlefield soldiers and maintaining a fighting force.

U.S. Army Cpt. Patrick Lewis, a medical logistics planner with 30th Medical Brigade, served as one of the subject matter experts on medical logistics. When asked about the value of working with Lithuanian forces, he offered his insights.

“Interoperability is incredibly important within combat medicine because it ensures best practices for patient care under fire and tactical field care are shared across services and with partner nations,” Lewis said. “In a deployed setting, U.S. forces may be supporting a Lithuanian infantry platoon or a battalion aid station. If we are familiar and comfortable with how each other operates, it benefits the patient to ensure a seamless evacuation and continuity of care.”

Lithuanian Military Medical Service welcomes US medical professionals to share critical knowledge
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lithuanian Staff Sgt. Adrone Vasiliauskaite, an ambulance nurse, demonstrates Lithuanian protocols for autologous blood transfusion to U.S. Army Lt. Col. Nathan Boyer in Kaunas, Lithuania, 20 September, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Elena Chung) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lithuanian Military Medical Service welcomes US medical professionals to share critical knowledge
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Elena Chung observes Lithuanian tactical field care on a simulated casualty with a chest and leg injury in Kaunas, Lithuania, 22 September, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Kary LeBlanc) VIEW ORIGINAL

U.S. and Lithuanian counterparts shared best practices on the standardization of battle aid station and ambulance equipment, and demonstrated how each nation provided clinical practice and standards on simulated complex battlefield injuries. The culminating event featured trauma lanes focused on tactical combat casualty care which assessed Lithuanian medics on the treatment of a mock casualty from point of injury with evacuation to the battle aid station.

“Multi-national engagements, if done well, strengthen all countries involved and allow all parties to maintain excellent standards of care for wounded soldiers in the battlefield space,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Nathan Boyer, the medical director of the medical simulation center at Landstuhl. “The engagements, like the one we completed, are a key way to grow a more unified and stronger military medical service throughout the continent.”

Lithuania stands as a valued partner of the United States and a critical ally in the Baltic region. Continued global health engagements with Lithuanian allies will heighten survivability on the battlefield and save lives across the continent.