Military medicine
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The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for every segment of the U.S. population, including military personnel and their families. The TriService Nursing Research Program's Military Family Research Interest Group (FIG) formed a collaboration with Blue Star Families, a civilian non-profit organization, to identify potential issues faced by military families during the pandemic. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic produced significant challenges for military families. Collaboration between military and civilian partners can inform policies and appropriate strategies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 for military families. The findings presented here provide insight into areas where military families can be supported for optimal outcomes during unprecedented times.
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The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic stressed healthcare systems worldwide and exposed major flaws in military and civilian healthcare systems. Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) serves as the only military medical center for over 205,000 U. S. service members, beneficiaries, and coalition partners stationed throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. ⋯ While LRMC senior leaders developed a strategic pandemic response plan, a multidisciplinary team of nurses, doctors, and technicians collaborated to create an inpatient team to support the dual mission of coronavirus disease 2019 response and casualty care for the warfighter. In this manuscript, we discuss how a multidisciplinary clinical working group at a regional medical center prepared and responded to the pandemic, strategically planned patient care, and ensured support to combatant commands for ongoing forward military operations. Additionally, we share our experiences and lessons learned to inform other military facilities across the medical community and global healthcare systems.
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During the coronavirus-19 pandemic, limited information existed about the risks and consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection associated with maternal transmission to neonates. With rapidly evolving evidence, Air Force Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurses at U. ⋯ Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan, adapted their standard operating procedures to safeguard their at-risk neonatal patients. This interview describes an Air Force NICU nurse's view of neonatal transport and nursing care during the coronavirus-19 pandemic.
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Military nurses have been placed in the forefront of clinical and leadership roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. Serving in critical roles, military nurses have spearheaded innovations in clinical practice, conducted research, and implemented evidence-based practice projects that have advanced the capabilities of the Armed Forces Nurse Corps. This collection captures and highlights many of these military nursing contributions combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The global 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is setting unprecedented demands on the nation and the military and surgical services. Surgical demands include a large backlog of surgical cases, strain on available resources, and the need for additional measures to prevent exposure. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the feasibility, duration, adverse events, and potential gains associated with using a Turbett Sterilization Pod (TSP) for total joint replacements. ⋯ The TSP minimizes the time needed by the staff to set up an OR suite for a total joint replacement, therefore permitting them to focus more on direct patient care. This time improvement suggests that all surgical specialties, including those requiring greater than 12 traditional instrument sets, may experience reduced turnover time between cases. The use of the TSP is one means to help rectify the OR backlog brought on by COVID-19.