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***image1***Civilians have come to work at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for years.
So, why not civilian surgeons?
Now, thanks largely to trauma guru Dr. Ernest Moore, civilian surgeons
can work alongside LRMC military doctors through the Distinguished
Visiting Surgeon Program.
Dr. Moore − dubbed by many as the “Godfather of Trauma” − a celebrated
surgeon, researcher and teacher arrived recently at LRMC for a two-week
volunteer session.
On Aug. 14, he lectured to a large group of docs and nurses on multiple
organ failure, a leading killer of patients suffering from trauma.
“This man is the godfather of trauma,” said Sgt. Anil Shandil, a nurse
in the LRMC Intensive Care Unit. “In the civilian world, you’d pay
money to hear him speak. Why do you think I’m here? This was my day
off.”
Dr. Moore is here as a teacher and as a helping surgical hand. He also is a student, looking to learn from military medicine.
Mostly, he wants to learn compartmentalization of medical care, which
is the practice of treating patients at one facility, then sending them
on to another for more specialized care.
Also, the speed at which patients are moved from downrange to the U.S. interests him, he said.
“It’s a phenomenal opportunity in civilian health care to visit this
military enterprise here,” said Dr. Moore, trauma chief at Rocky
Mountain Regional Trauma Center and vice chair of surgery at the
University of Colorado.
“I am impressed with the quality of care,” he said. “I mean, 40 hours
from the point of injury to the U.S. is outstanding. I think our
civilian trauma could use some military efficiency maneuvers.”
The opportunity for civilian docs to volunteer their services at LRMC
has been a slow process – think red tape. Dr. Moore had long been
expressing interest and even went so far as to send a letter to
President George W. Bush, championing the program.
A Presidential reply wasn’t received, but the pen was put to paper, he said.
“I was the agitator who kept pushing the issue.” he said. “Once the
political barriers were down, I volunteered to come over here.”
Political barriers aside, there was another obstacle – avoiding
recruitment. He said on at least one occasion he was told that if he
wanted to treat war wounded, he should join the reserves.
“I didn’t want to commit five years of my life to the military,” he
said. “But I am here to help and I am happy to help. I’m just glad this
program is going in to effect.”
As are doctors at LRMC. Sometimes the military has a lot of experienced
surgeons move on to other challenges. They get their education and
training with the military, then change to civilian jobs, said Air
Force Maj. Raymond Fang, a trauma/critical care surgeon at LRMC.
“We don’t have what we call ‘the gray hairs,’ who have seen and done
everything,” he said. “We thought it would be nice to get some of the
‘gray hairs’ here to help us make things better.”
A handful of surgeons have expressed interest in the volunteer program
and LRMC will host one visiting surgeon per month during the coming
months, said Dr. Fang.
