JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO CAMP BULLIS, TEXAS – Twenty two U.S. Army pharmacists and pharmacy specialists from across the country traveled to Camp Bullis this week to participate in a 40-hour deployment readiness course hosted by the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE). The Pharmacy Operations Course is designed to prepare personnel to provide efficient and effective pharmaceutical support to the sustainment mission of a military operation in an austere, multi-domain, large scale operating environment. The enduring objective of this training event was to enhance individual and collective readiness along with increased support capabilities that will conserve the fighting strength.
The top leader of pharmacy services and the 20th Medical Service Corps Chief, Maj. Gen. Michael Talley, kicked off the course by reminding participants of their vital role in “understanding key missions such as drug supply, medication safety, and trauma medication support…[to] be an enabler towards the sustainment mission.” “You are the key to success,” said Talley. He also serves as the MEDCoE Commanding General.
During the course, participants followed a notional deployment scenario beginning with pre-deployment exercises and medical planning considerations that led to field hospital pharmacy set up and a culminating exercise involving trauma and mass casualties. Contrary to the training and experience received at military treatment facilities stateside, participants were challenged to adapt to an austere environment. This includes determining mitigating factors to ensure sterile compounds prepared in an environment without engineering controls have an appropriate beyond use date.
“This course gave me the knowledge I need to carry out pharmacy operations in a deployed environment,” said Staff Sgt. Rosalinda Bermea Arriaga of Desmond T. Doss Health Clinic, Schofield Barracks, HI. “It was important to me to develop my confidence as a pharmacy technician and to carry out tasks that are important to the support of our troops.”
“This course provided me with the big picture of why we wear this uniform,” said Capt. Lauren Kaminski of Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, CO. “Specifically, the lessons on tactical combat casualty care resonated with me in regards to how important Army Pharmacy is to the success of our missions and saving lives down range.”
“I kept reflecting back on specific scenarios…and imagining what I could have done differently,” said Capt. Ji Yoon Kim of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. “I felt that this course was a gentle reminder to always keep a Soldier-first mentality and to stay open minded for continuous development.”
Sergeant Elijah Barrett of Bayne Jones Army Community Hospital, Fort Polk, LA said the course “helped me find a new pride in being a pharmacy technician. We really save lives in critical moments, and I want to be a part of something like that!”
Army Pharmacy has a distinct mission that reaches all levels of care from point of injury to definitive care. With increased emphasis on sets and repetitions on inpatient pharmacy, supply chain, and critical care tasks, the force will increase its capability and capacity to provide sustainment support in the next operation. Adaptability, communication, and teamwork will be central to this effort. The U.S. Army Pharmacy Readiness Program plans to expand opportunities for the Pharmacy Operations Course beyond its annual availability and limitation to active duty personnel which will support the greater joint and unified mission.
To learn more about opportunities in Army pharmacy visit Go Army.com at https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/career-match/science-medicine/physical-mental-health/67e-pharmacist.html
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