scope:

Staging facilities provide inpatient medical-surgical care. Critically ill or inpatient mental health patients will be cared for at the nearest/supporting MTF with required capability or on a short-term basis by an En Route Critical Care (ERCC) team (i.e. Critical Care Air Transport Team; Tactical Critical Care Transport Team; Burn Team; Neonatal Intensive Care Team) at the staging facility for patients awaiting airlift. (T-3) En Route Critical Care teams encompass several critical care teams (e.g. burn, neonatal, lung, pediatric, trauma). Provisions must be in place to address support services and additional clinical care required by patients in the staging facility due to patient condition changes or mission delays/cancellations. (T-3) The primary supporting MTF is responsible for providing all clinical, surgical and ancillary support required for patients in the staging facility regardless of size.

The standard Aeromedical Evacuation Crew Member (AECM) complement will provide specialized inpatient medical-surgical care capability with Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) resuscitative capability while contacting C2 for further medical direction. (T-2) During mission execution, AECM's clinical practice is under the medical direction of the Theater Validating Flight Surgeon (TVFS). Mission requirements drive the use of specialty augmented medical teams, individual medical attendants (MA), and advanced care teams subject to patient need, strategic requirements and aircraft availability/platform type. NOTE: In an emergency, when no physician is present or cannot be contacted, AECMs and/or medical personnel will follow guidance outlined within this instruction, and are authorized to perform BLS/ACLS within their scope of practice in emergency situations to preserve life, limb, or eyesight. (T-2) The medical crew director (MCD) will notify the appropriate Patient Movement Requirements Center (PMRC) of any treatment performed outside a patient's written orders as soon as operationally feasible. (T-2)

Medical personnel in the AE system provide care based upon their Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC), Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), and Naval Enlisted Classification (NEC) scope of practice/specific core competencies, level of knowledge, training, and skills.