The upgraded Expeditionary Medical Support System

by Staff Sgt. Steve Stanley
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

2/19/2014 - Langley Air Force Base, Va. -- Teams from the San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC) have partnered with the humanitarian Relief Team, Medical Group staff and War Reserve Materiel section on Langley AFB, to test new equipment for the Expeditionary Medical Support System (EMEDS) 13 - 17 February, 2014.

EMEDS is comprised of a variety of modular, medical response packages and equipment that can be used in multiple geographical operations and situations such as humanitarian relief, wartime contingencies and disaster response.

The EMEDS team is equipped and staffed to provide surgical, primary, dental, pediatric and radiological care as well as laboratory and pharmaceutical services and is continuously looking to improve their equipment and processes.

Recent equipment added to EMEDS is a new tent structure containing collective protection materials to protect against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks. These are incorporated into the outer skin of the structure, making it easier for the overall set up. A new ventilator with built-in pressure support is also being added to the EMEDS equipment list.

"This is a proof of concept pilot to show the operational concept of the new collective protected tent system," said Col. Tom Erchinger, chief of general surgery, 59th Medical Wing, SAMMC. "It will prove it is a functional, efficient modular unit for mobile field surgical and critical care teams."

The larger tents are equipped with lighter frames requiring only four people to set up the structure in less than an hour. The tent's pressurization is activated by a blower system expanding the outer skin.

"The work flow is similar to the old process, so there is not much of a learning curve," said Maj. Michael Kryer, associate program director, 59th Medical Wing, SAMMC. "[We are] able to 'kick the tires' with the new equipment, and get out in the field and ensure that we are able to take care of folks."

The goals of the EMEDS Humanitarian Relief Teams are to be fully operational within 6 hours and be used in a forward Operating Base (FOB) or the highest medical readiness status of a level 3 center.

"It's good to have people that know how this goes when it's time to deploy," said Senior Airman Rebecca Barron, respiratory therapist at SAMMC.

She is training people on a new ventilator with pressure support while getting hands on experience with the new tent set up.

Barron is deploying soon and said she can take what she learned here and apply it to the new environment.

"It's better than any [computer based training] CBT because this is what you do in the real world," said Master Sgt. Alison Lambert, logistics team chief of Acquisition and Customer Service, medical logistics section, Langley AFB. "We need to be familiar with the equipment and interact with the other section team members to learn new skills."

Joint Service members and partners from Ft. Eustis and the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va., visited the EMEDS location to get a chance to see if they can incorporate the modernization of the new tent systems and equipment into their expeditionary operations.

"Folks that are new to the exercise, get a chance to experience the austere environment and get hands on training," said col. Joann Frye, EMEDS Expeditionary Medical Group commander, Langley AFB. "It's of great value to replicate the deployed environment and prove that the tent structure and pressurized system works."