Planning for a Better Future

Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Charles Green spoke of the need to invest in training and education, leverage new technologies, and partner more closely with other nations in his keynote address at last week’s US-led international symposium on in-flight medical care at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash. “The future for us is all about helping more people, saving more lives,” said Green. “That means finding ways to move more patients, not just in volume, but patients we otherwise wouldn’t move because they’re not stable enough to fly.” Green said its crucial to standardize equipment so joint teams can work together seamlessly regardless of whose gear is available. Over the past 10 years, aeromedical professionals have moved more than 90,000 patients, of which only four died while in their care, he said. “In the future, we’ll be able to do even better,” he said during his July 21 speech. (Lewis-McChord report by SSgt. J.G. Buzanowski)