The latest Strategic Medical Asset Readiness Training (SMART) rotation began early this week for 11 members of the United States military, where they will work in clinical areas of the adult hospital.
The U.S. Army Medical Command developed Operation SMART to establish partnerships with civilian health care facilities and verified Level 1 trauma centers such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center to enhance the training of military medical personnel. This marks the 13th rotation of the SMART program at VUMC.
This latest rotation, which lasts until April 23, is a first for the SMART Program as it has been extended from two to three weeks. This extended rotation is a national pilot starting at VUMC.
“We realized the soldiers take a couple of days of observation to assimilate the ‘VUMC’ way of doing things, so we decided to add a week of didactic training on the front end to better prepare the soldiers for the rotation,” said Christopher Brown MS, CC-P, SMART program manager. “We’ll provide a refresher for their knowledge and skills and teach them specifics on how things are done at VUMC. I believe this will provide a better overall experience for the soldiers.”
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.
To date, over 120 military members have trained at the Medical Center as part of the SMART program since its inception in May 2021. During their time at VUMC, SMART participants rotate through the emergency department, operating rooms, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Post-anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), 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.