Cooper University Health Care to host training program for US Army resuscitation team

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Cooper University Health Care announced on Friday it has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Army to provide advanced surgical trauma training to the army’s elite Forward Resuscitation Surgical Team (FRST).

Cooper is the first trauma center in the nation to begin providing this training.

“This is another first for Cooper, and we are honored and proud to train this elite army medical team,” said George Norcross, chairman of Cooper’s board of trustees in a statement. “As a high-volume, academic tertiary care Level I Trauma Center, our experience and reputation uniquely positions us to provide the hands-on training and skills this elite team needs to help them save lives on battlefields around the world.”

The program is the result of a 2017 congressional mandate aimed at advancing the military health system trauma readiness for deployment to combat zones around the globe by collaborating with high-volume civilian trauma centers to gain critical teamwork and technical trauma skills.

As the flagship site, Cooper will help develop the program that will expand to additional sites throughout the U.S. over the next two years.

“The Army Military Civilian Trauma Training Team Program provides opportunities for army medical personnel to work in trauma centers with more emergency care patients than what we typically see in Army hospitals,” said Brig. Gen. Telita Crosland, commanding general, Regional Health Command-Atlantic, in a statement.

“We view this partnership as a win-win for both army medicine and Cooper University Health Care. It brings highly skilled doctors and nurses together to support patients here in the region. It also allows our military medical professionals to maintain their expertise in support of military medical readiness,” said Crosland.

“In 2018, the U.S. Army Medical Command evaluated 15 Level I Trauma Centers for its initial programs,” said Colonel Jason Seery. “Cooper University Health Care was one of two hospitals selected based on its great trauma program, strong understanding of combat medicine, and executive level leadership support.”

Under the program, a U.S. Army surgeon, emergency medicine physician, a nurse anesthetist, an intensive care nurse and an emergency nurse are fully embedded members of the Cooper clinical staff for three years to obtain first-hand training at Cooper’s high-volume, high-acuity trauma center.

In addition, the program also includes clinical rotations with Cooper’s Trauma ICU, Psychiatry, Emergency Department, Labor & Delivery, Operating Room, Anesthesia, Pediatric Emergency Department, Orthopedic Trauma, Family Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Cooper’s EMS that serves the city of Camden.

Because of its expertise in trauma, surgery, and critical care, Cooper currently provides a wide range of military, diplomatic, and field affairs training programs.