by Jill Clendening
The next Strategic Medical Asset Readiness Training (SMART) rotation, which includes 15 members of the United States military, is coming to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to work in clinical areas of the Vanderbilt University Hospital Nov. 8-22.
The U.S. Army Medical Command developed Operation SMART to establish partnerships with civilian health care facilities and verified Level One trauma centers such as VUMC to enhance the training of military medical personnel.
“At VUMC, we see the volume and high acuity of trauma patients, which provide the perfect environment for these soldiers to hone their skills so they can provide the injured they encounter downrange the best care possible on the battlefield,” said VUMC SMART program manager Christopher Brown, CC-P.
While these personnel are well equipped to provide routine health care for soldiers and their families, they often have limited exposure to trauma and critical care during non-deployment military medical service. The SMART program enables them to sustain and expand their skills as they care for a greater number of high-acuity patients. High-acuity patients are those with challenging medical conditions who often have significant, unpredictable needs requiring a high level of monitoring and care.
The November SMART group is the seventh such group to rotate at VUMC, and to date, 64 military members have trained at the Medical Center as part of the program since its inception in May 2021. During their two weeks at VUMC, SMART participants rotate through the emergency department, operating rooms, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Post-anesthesia Care Unit, Burn Intensive Care Unit, Trauma Intensive Care Unit, Labor & Delivery and Orthopaedic Clinic.
SMART rotators are licensed or certified in their specialty, and while at VUMC they are active in all aspects of patient care, from triage to discharge. Each SMART participant has an individual critical task list (ICTL), or a list of specific skills required by the U.S. Army to maintain their combat readiness. During their rotation, there is an emphasis on patient assessment, trauma resuscitations, and medication and blood administration.