Aeromedical transport training in Bangkok

The ever-increasing number of visitors to Asia has amplified the demand for aeromedical transport across the region, and courses such as the CCAT training has brought, and will bring, much benefit to the standards and quality of care available. The 10-day event started with the foundation level phase, but also included a three-day advanced component for the graduates of the 2017 course. Both phases were directed and taught by Dr Terry Martin, the founder of the CCAT training in the UK, while five local highly experienced guest speakers from South-East Asia helped to deliver the syllabus. Together, they shared their experiences on providing high-quality care in the air for complicated cases such as major trauma, critically ill patients and paediatric and neonatal transfers by both fixed-wing air ambulance and HEMS.

Additional activities included visits to Medical Wings Department at Don Mueang Airport and Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital. The hospital medical transport team introduced and demonstrated the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) transport service and patient loading/unloading into the HEMS helicopter. Delegates also received hands-on practical skill demonstrations, simulated emergency procedures in flight, and received competency training on air transportable medical equipment.

Participants travelled from across Asia to attend the event, including Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and South Korea, and all received an accredited CCAT Training Certificate in partnership with Rangsit University. Dr Yin, Chief Medical Officer of Asian Assistance, stated: “The course was challenging to run but turned out to be highly successful, with a greater number of participants than last year. Feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive. We are pleased to be the centre in South East Asia for organising such significant and respected educational experience.”

Dr Terra, one of the participants, stated “This CCAT course focused intensively on systematic critical thinking. The group discussion allowed us to share our knowledge and experiences in aeromedical transport under the supervision of the expert in this field. Increased knowledge on the dos and don’ts are one of the things that we carried out after the completion of the training.”

Another participant, Dr Feemuchang, noted: “The professional atmosphere and the great teaching staff made my CCAT training a big success. Not only could I develop my medical knowledge further, it also enabled me to meet interesting people from several countries.”

In his summing up on the final day of teaching, Dr Martin described the Bangkok course as a great event, congratulating the delegates for their enthusiasm and dedication to passing each stage of the training.