Articles

Dec. 10, 2025

New Study Highlights Risks in En Route Insulin Administration & Calls for Enhanced Protocols

JBSA-LACKLAND, Texas — A decade-long study reviewing nearly 3,000 Critical Care Air Transport (CCAT) patient records found significant safety concerns related to insulin administration during military aeromedical evacuations. Only 2% of transported patients received insulin, yet insulin infusions were linked to a 23% rate of hypoglycemia; highlighting the difficulty of precise glucose control in the challenging aircraft environment. The research also noted inconsistent glucose monitoring practices, with 60% of IV push insulin doses lacking a documented glucose check within one hour. To reduce risk and improve outcomes, the study recommends prioritizing subcutaneous insulin as the primary treatment for hyperglycemia during en route care and strengthening monitoring protocols when IV insulin is necessary. These findings are intended to drive improved training, updated clinical guidelines, and safer medication administration during future missions.

Feb. 6, 2024

DOD’s first dual-patient ECMO C-17 transport

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — The Department of Defense’s only Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) team travelled to El Paso, Texas, on Oct. 23, 2023, to support a civilian patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome. The ECMO team, located at Brooke Army Medical Center possesses the capability for global transports of all service members. Additionally, the team may also transport civilian patients through the Secretarial Designee program or with the Secretary of the Air Force’s approval. Once approval is granted, the medics use any means necessary to quickly reach the patient.

Feb. 7, 2023

From the battlefield to the football field: Air Force surgeon’s skills knows no bounds

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — On January 2nd, when many football fans were watching the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, Lt. Col. Valerie Sams, an Air Force surgeon, was on call at UC Health’s University of Cincinnati Medical Center not knowing what she was about to face.

Jan. 19, 2023

A ‘not-so-routine’ operation

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, (Jan. 19, 2023) — Aug. 26, 2021 was a terrible day of bloodshed and destruction near Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, when a suicide bomber killed an estimated 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members. That same day, shortly after the bombing, U.S. Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Dominick Vitale, Brooke Army Medical Center critical care/trauma surgeon, and the remaining members of the Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) were on the first aircraft to land and evacuate the severely injured to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Vitale and the entire crew, dubbed ‘MOOSE 98,’ received the Distinguished Flying Cross with “C” device for their actions during a ‘not-so-routine’ operation.