Wilford Hall team wins learning innovation award Published Jan. 20, 2009 By Sue Campbell 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Air Education and Training Command presented the 2008 Learning Innovation Award to the 59th Inpatient Operations Group's Critical Care Technician Course Team Jan. 15 during the AETC Symposium in downtown San Antonio. The annual award is presented to an AETC team that developed a learning innovation which contributed to the effectiveness and efficiency of the learning process. This year's award recognized the implementation of the Critical Care Technician Course, or CCTC, developed by the 59th Medical Wing Education and Training Division. The CCTC was developed to meet the Air Force Medical Service manning crisis that was as low as 75 percent for critical care technicians. The course is based on the American Association of Critical Care Nurses practice guidelines as an innovative program to meet the high demand-low density Air Force specialty code requirement while supporting the needs of the war-fighting commander. "When the course was developed, there was no formal program available in the AFMS," said Maj. Regina Agee, Wing Education and Training Division chief. "Therefore, critical care technicians arrived in combat zones without the knowledge or skills to perform critical wartime duties. Our primary goal was to support the Air Force surgeon general's requirement and tasking to improve combat casualty care in the deployed environment. To that end, we sought a creative way to optimize extremely limited resources to equip our medical technicians with critical care clinical skills and knowledge." The CCTC introduces medical technicians to new, state-of-the art technology through incorporating real time war scenarios using simulation and interactive computer-based training. The course includes 75 percent lab and hands-on skills training, in addition to 25 percent didactic training. "This type of training improves the efficiency and effectiveness of students' learning, which translates into improved care on the battlefield," Major Agee said. "The survival rate of wounded military members treated on the battlefield is at a record high of 98 percent." The Air Force has recognized the CCTC as a quality program that exemplifies the process of producing a highly competent and capable staff who are able to provide the highest standard of care in the critical care arena. The program has expanded from Wilford Hall to an Air Force-wide course. "It is a real honor for us to receive this award," Major Agee said. "Our people are now better prepared to take care of combat casualties in the deployed environment."