Guidelines for En Route Medical Care in Present and Future MEDEVAC Operations (COVID SMOG Annex)

Although the authority for the transport of COVID patients resides with USTRANSCOM, it is imperative that MEDEVAC Companies be afforded the most evidenced based and holistic recommendations regarding the movement of COVID patients. A process improvement study involving 20 aeromedical authorities from 6 nations was conducted. 94 surveys/SOPs collected as part of this effort culminated in a virtual international conference conducted on 29 Jan 2021. Notable agencies participating in this process improvement project include U.S. Army MEDEVAC Units, the School of Army Aviation Medicine (SAAM), the FAA, our sister services, Joint Trauma Systems and Boston Med Flight. Individual participants in the SME analysis included Enroute Critical Care Nurses, Critical Care Flight Paramedics, MEDEVAC quality and safety executives, pilots, aerospace medicine specialists and emergency medicine physicians. The following recommended practices represent a concurrence of SAAM and Boston MedFlight policies and procedures, with additional subject matter expertise garnered from the 29 January 2021 international teleconference.