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CSTARS

CSTARS Cincinnati

CSTARS = Center for the Sustainment of Trauma & Readiness Skills

CCATT = Critical Care Air Transport Team

UC4 = Combat Casualty Care Center

Background

  • Recognition of skill deficits in military medical personnel following Desert Storm
  • Military medical centers do not routinely participate in high volume trauma care delivery
  • Vital necessity to maintain a skilled medic force capable of caring for military injured

The University of Cincinnati Medical Center was selected by the United States Air Force because of its national reputation for providing the highest level of care in a busy academic/urban Level-1 trauma center. The recognized excellence of patient care and scientific research led to UC’s selection in 2001 as one of only five national military/civilian collaborative training centers. Cincinnati CSTARS has trained more than 700 military medics since its first class in 2002. Strong collaboration and support from the UC College of Medicine, University Hospital and UC Surgeons has been a key to the success enjoyed by this very special center.

  • Established in 2001 - first course in 2002 - cadre increased in 2004
  • Located at the Level-1 trauma center at University Hospital
  • 14-day course aimed to sustain CCATT skills for Active Duty, Reserve and Guard
  • More than 3,300 trauma patients treated at Trauma Center at University Hospital in 2008

Cincinnati CSTARS has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as well as in support of Homeland Defense missions during hurricanes Katrina and Gustav and other disasters. Currently members of the Cincinnati CSTARS cadre are deployed to Ramstein Air Base (Germany) and Bagram Air Base (Afghanistan).

Goals
  • Preserve life and quality of life for injured soldiers on battlefields worldwide.
  • Train military medics in the lessons of “Right patient. Right place. Right amount of time.
  • Provide translational lessons from the battlefield to the civilian community.
  • Define the next generation of medical care and support equipment through innovative and leading edge research at an academic center of excellence.

Collaborative efforts are underway to establish a center of excellence for research for the injured patient, with a focus of relevance to the wounded soldier: University of Cincinnati Center for Combat Casualty Care. A few of the initiatives that will help us move to the next level are:

  • Research in the use of Autonomous Controllers that can monitor and support a patient’s condition during travel better than a human controller
  • Research to discover if, and under what conditions, patient transport can exacerbate the inflammatory response to injury
  • Investigate the effects of hypertonic therapy in patients with traumatic brain injury. This study will also allow real-time monitoring of the effects of transport and acceleration on the head-injured patient.

“The University of Cincinnati’s Center for Combat Casualty Care and Cincinnati CSTARS are a uniquely poised platform that offers the opportunity to leverage the very best aspects of medicine, academic research and the military medic. The poise and purpose of this program is to ensure that we bring more of our wounded warriors home, in a shorter period of time, to a richer and more complete recovery. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines deserve nothing less. The lessons learned in this effort may be rapidly translated into improved care in our own communities.”

Jay A. Johannigman MD FACS, Colonel USAFR MC FS
University Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio

 

Working under low light and surrounded by the engine roar of a transport aircraft, UC faculty and top U.S. Air Force medical personnel teach lifesaving battlefield medicine skills. Located within the trauma center of University Hospital, the CSTARS program is a joint civilian and military critical care training site, one of only five in the entire nation. UC is proud to be part of an elite team that’s ensuring our troops get the best possible care—under the most extreme conditions.


For more information on CSTARS, please contact Mark Andresen, NCOIC at 513-584-0330.