To all medics and medic staff out there, what are your study resources and tips?

2022-07-06T00:20:56-04:00

I’m practically a fresh out the box medic having only been at my unit for around three months before being sent to CST at Fort Knox. While here, I realized there’s a few things I’m lacking in (such as how to ask sick call pre-screen questions and how to handle them) and a few things I want to study more in-depth (like prolonged field care, medication for sedation and analgesic, examination tests, mstc schools etc.)

Therefore, medics, nurse, and doctors, what do you use to help increase your knowledge?

Of course I’m researching most of these on my own however it doesn’t hurt learning from people who have more experience than me in the field of medicine.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2022 11:25 AM

2022-07-06T11:25:18-04:00

Personally, I would have attached you to the hip of the most senior medic on sight to teach you the ropes and the quirky ins and outs.

Find the senior medic and ask to shadow them when they do pre screens and what not. Crawl, Walk, Run is the name of the game. Right now, you should be in the Crawl phase, and not the Run phase.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2022 4:24 PM

2022-07-08T16:24:34-04:00

Everything you need to know to meet the Army requirements of a medic can be taught at CLS. In fact, you'll probably be teaching a lot of CLS. The value of a good doc is in the practical application of medicine. Just being there on the line and being present.

That's not to say you shouldn't expand your knowledge, the more you know, the better your effect will be. But, you know so little that you can go in any direction. You know about 0.5%-1.0% of what your battalion PA knows, fresh out of PA school. So, figure out what area of medicine you find interesting and start learning. There is no shortage of resources and YouTube videos about everything from A&P, to dermatology, to surgery, to medical logistics, to point of injury care.

In general, your career path as a 68W has several main courses:
Physician Assistant
Nurse
Doctor
Flight Paramedic
Special Operations Medic
Medic Platoon Sergeant

See which one of those interests you the most and work towards that. Start working on your Bachelor degree now, it will be critical for you no matter what path you pick. The last thing you want is to be ready for promotion but be a year behind your peers because they have their degree and you don't.

Tldr - start college now

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2022 9:21 PM

2022-07-08T21:21:46-04:00

The deployed medicine app is a great resource. The Ranger Medic handbook is another great resource.

It's probably going to be difficult attend college level anatomy and physiology classes while active duty but if you can it will help you to understand what the body is doing and why it's doing it.

Response by CPL T.A. Nelson made Jul 14 at 2022 9:24 AM

2022-07-14T09:24:50-04:00

Check on Amazon for quick reference cards - nursing, emt, sedation, field medicine. Many of the easiest tools are available a good prices but when it comes down to it you will need to surround yourself with the topics of all forms of care and prepare yourself to deal with all of it under the worst circumstances. When at your duty station it would be worth it to volunteer with a Fire department, when you can...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2022 8:17 AM

2022-07-17T08:17:09-04:00

I will second what one person said with the deployed medicine app and Ranger Medic Handbook. The deployed medicine app gives you a ton about prolonged field care. The Ranger Medic Handbook is a great foundation. It gives both trauma and sick call information. From there as was said attach yourself to the senior medic if they are doing patient care or try to shadow your PA. Most are more than willing to teach you. A lot comes down to you and how motivated you are. If you want to do college level classes both phoenix university and AMU have online A and P with labs. The quick reference cards are nice but a Bates physical exam guide, and a sanfords antibiotic guide are 2 big ones I always have. If you go onto AMEDDs website and to the library there are a ton of free medical resources. Things like UpToDate are free to us. You need to use your CAC to sign in and it is not super easy to navigate but spend some time and you will get a lot of info.

Response by SFC Greg Dunn made Jul 21 at 2022 10:07 AM

2022-07-21T10:07:56-04:00

We had a great Battalion Surgeon, he taught us a lot of the things you are asking about- sick call screening, interpreting labs, all kinds of stuff. My advice is get with senior medics and your doctors.

Response by SPC Twilloree Gaines made Aug 5 at 2022 1:33 AM

2022-08-05T01:33:35-04:00

I have used the ABC and T method for eval. So A airway. Dizziness light headed or passing out . B breathing sob wheezing difficulty breathing in and out . C any chest discomfort or pain . T temperature fever nausea vomiting or diarrhea . See doctor

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2022 6:42 PM

2022-08-31T18:42:34-04:00

Listen to those more senior to you for tips/tricks.

There is an app called deployed medicine which I use to refer to the up to date TCCC guidelines for PT care. It also has additional trainings, up to date medical journals etc.

Best of luck

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/deployed-medicine/id [login to see]

Deployed Medicine

Deployed Medicine is an innovative learning service developed to supplement the medical education and training of U.S. military personnel, although some of the medical content could be broadly applied for use by civilian medical providers. The information contained in this app is designed to serve a…

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 31 at 2022 6:44 PM

2022-08-31T18:44:12-04:00

This be very helpful for others.

Response by SFC Laura Mincey made Oct 4 at 2022 1:16 PM

2022-10-04T13:16:26-04:00

Ask a PA to be your mentor and take online classes, start with a couse in patient interviewing assessment