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February 7, 2019 • APG News B3 Soldiers test new communication device designed to save lives BY ASHLEY FORCE MEDCOM FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- The Army’s newest medical communication device is just one study away from being procured and fielded -- the Medical Hands-free Unified Broadcast, or “MEDHUB.” Two years ago, Jay Wang, product man- ager for the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity, was at Fort Ruck- er, Alabama demonstrating the latest U.S. Department of Defense medical software called the battlefield-assisted trauma dis- tributed observation kit, or BATDOK, to the U.S. Army School of Aviation Medicine and Medical Evacuation Proponency Division, based on recommendations from the medics. Returning two years later, he co-facili- tated MEDHUB’s final medical study at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laborato- ry, USAARL. Wang and his team of Medical Support Systems and Evacuation Project Management Office engineers have been hyper-focused on developing this product because of its impor- tant purpose: to help save the lives of injured Soldiers. “In 2017, I was visiting paramedics in Fort Rucker. At the time, when they were transporting a patient to a hospital they had to type all the patient’s medical informa- tion letter by letter into the old system,” said Wang. “They just didn’t have time for that.” Photos by Ashley Force, MEDCOM That’s when the idea for MEDHUB sparked. It was designed to improve the Army Cpt. Sean McCoy, 541st Forward Surgical Team ER physician, conducted patient evaluations on each injured Soldier communication flow between patients, med- during training at USAARL. Evaluators denoted whether or not test participants completed specific critical actions in ics and receiving field hospitals. MEDHUB order for each patient treatment to count as criteria successes. features smart automation technology, so During the mass casualty simulations, medics can send patient information with the randomized manikins were mocked-up to click of a button on a handheld tablet verses resemble combat injuries such as burns, gun- typing in thousands of characters. It shortens shot wounds and amputations. The 44th test the medic’s time completing a Tactical Com- participants were tasked with treating those bat Casualty Care card and increases accu- victims and additional stress was added by racy in completeness by about two-to-three giving the clinicians eight patients during the times verses pen and paper. course of each scenario. After the data is captured, the device auto- Evaluators, who were mostly research matically forwards that message to the hos- clinicians from the U.S. Army Medical pital through existing long-range tactical Research and Materiel Command, captured communication systems used by the Depart- every single medical procedure that the 44th ment of Defense and prepares the hospital for test participants performed. the patients arriving. The 44th test participants treated patients “Every minute counts here,” said Wang. in two circumstances. The first was based “There are certain things like defrosting on standard of care where the doctors and blood that takes 20 minutes. So an early nurses received a radio call from the medics warning verses a five-minute-notice radio five minutes before patient arrival. The sec- call makes a world of a difference.” ond circumstance was with the use of MED- To assure the best possible product, HUB, which provided patient information 20 MEDHUB had to be tested by Soldiers for minutes ahead of time in addition to the stan- effectiveness, and that is what took place at dard-of-care call. USAARL. The observers were watching to see how Before patient arrival, test participants with the 44th Medical Brigade stud- ied patient information on the Medical Hands-free Unified Broadcast device. MEDHUB study the extra minutes of preparation potential- ly helped the patient outcomes or provided MEDHUB was provided to the test participants for half of the mass casualty The purpose of the study was to find out better care. scenarios so evaluators could study its impact on patient treatment. how a field hospital staff reacts to using “What I’ve witnessed is the test partici- the device in a mass casualty environment. things that were looked at,” said Kinsler. “As researchers, we can build new equip- pants are getting to the patient quicker,” said USAARL provided the facility for the study, Each manikin was staffed with a clinician ment for things that maybe we don’t under- Lt. Col. Chris VanFosson, study evaluator lab equipment, technical support, Sim-man to tell the 44th test participants how the man- stand or don’t work with as much,” said and chief for trauma outcomes and systems 3G manikins, which are life-size manne- ikin would react to their treatments. Each Wang. “We all have different roles, but a research at the USAISR. “They are triaging. quins used in medical education, and Sol- manikin also had an operator in charge of study like this expands our knowledge of As evaluators, we have sat in the hallway for dier support. A moulage team, a team with adjusting its health status. The realistic envi- how well we can all work together to provide 20 minutes waiting for the triage officer to mock injuries for training purposes, to make ronment provided valuable practice for the a better Army.” get to our patient. But with the MEDHUB the test scenarios more realistic, was added. 44th test participants as the study aimed to This hospital scenario test was MED- system, it seems like they are getting there The test participants being studied were resemble a true mass casualty situation. HUB’s final developmental test. The data quicker.” six members of the Forward Resuscitative from this study allows for the proper plan- The 44th test participants needed to com- Surgical Team with the 44th Medical Bri- Reactions and results ning of an end-to-end Operational Test plete a few critical things in order for each gade from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. “We appreciate the opportunity for this scheduled in March. At that time, the use of patient treatment to count as criteria success- “USAARL was honored to host the 44th training,” said Cpt. Sean McCoy, 541st For- MEDHUB will be tested from point of inju- es. They were not graded on how well they Medical Brigade, USAMMDA and the U.S. ward Surgical Team ER physician. “Our ry -- to the ground medic -- to the ground treated the patient, rather, if they complet- Army Institute for Surgical Research. I’d like main goal is damage control resuscitation. vehicle medic -- to the air and ambulance -- ed the critical actions. For example, a criti- to first thank the study participants,” said We don’t have CAT scans, X-ray or ultra- to the hospital. cal action could be putting in a new airway Army Col. Jonathan Taylor, commander of sound machines. We basically plug holes, After the data from this field hospital or checking tourniquets. USAARL. “These medical experts brought give blood, start antibiotics and keep the study is analyzed, USAMMDA and USAA- “Evaluators denoted the time it took for enthusiasm and realism to our test scenario patient warm. For some patients, the ‘Gold- RL will take their findings and publish procedures to be done, and we are logging all that made it work. Next, the study team, led en Hour’ is ultimately too long, these patients a joint paper and report. That data will data points so we can see which procedures by Rachel Kinsler, created a realistic and rel- need to be treated within minutes.” serve to push MEDHUB into the Warfighter’ were done faster. Which were better orga- evant study design that allowed our medical Wang believes watching the Army clini- hands, inspire user confidence in the device nized so they were done earlier in the study? experts and the test team from USAMMDA cians in action allowed the research team to and continue to make MEDHUB better and Was communication improved? Those are to effectively evaluate the technology.” understand their gaps. stronger for the warfighter. See more photos from events around APG http://www.flickr.com/photos/usagapg/ Have a great idea for a story? Know about any interesting upcoming events? Wish you saw more of your organization in the paper? The APG News accepts story ideas and content you think the APG community should know about. Story ideas or content must be geared toward the greater APG community and cannot appear to endorse any private company. The deadline for content to appear in an upcoming issue of the APG News is the Thursday PRIOR to publication. 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