Joint Service Initiative: Operational Advanced Wound Care Formulary and Guideline

OBJECTIVES:

Our objectives were to establish quad-service wound care advisory team, define the current advanced wound care needs in the operational environment, develop a standardized advanced wound care pictorial formulary, and implement evidence-based wound care practices throughout the operational continuum of care.

METHODS:

A Quad-service DoD team was established consisting of 1) advanced wound care subject matter experts (military and civilian) from throughout the military.  A needs assessment were utilized to identify wound care deficits, both training and supplies, in the operational setting.  Members submitted for National Stock Numbers (NSN), cataloged products, assisted in getting products added to service assemblages, and worked with service suppliers to ensure theater availability, and market analysis review. The final phase was to develop a wound care pictorial guide targeted for the end user with wound care product usage and ordering information.      

RESULTS:

The results of our Joint service initiative to develop a standardized wound care product formulary and guide are as follows:

1.       Developed an evidence-based and standardized advanced wound care formulary appropriate to all services in all operational environments.  

2.       Create an advanced wound care pictorial guide available in electronic and paper.

3.       Enhanced Joint service communication throughout the entire wounded warrior care continuum.

4.       Successfully linked Joint service clinical personnel with DoD experts to create a much needed solution to the care of the wounded/injured in the operational setting.

CONCLUSION:

This project demonstrates the effectiveness of a Joint service initiative in accomplishing a complex multi-service mission that has a tremendous impact on the care of wounded, both military and civilian throughout the World in multiple operational environments.  In the future it would be advantageous to incorporate non-government organizations to ensure further collaboration in multi-national disaster response missions.