2010 Paulatim Magazine - RAAMC Association

Health Branch HQ Forces Command
A Year in Review
It has been a privledge working with a very busy and dedicated team of
health professionals posted to Health Branch HQ Forces Command over
the past 12 months. The support Army Health has received from the
Command and staff of Forces Command has enabled us to truly realise
three key initiatives: The Army Combat Health Restructure, the roll-out
of Exercise Primary Survey series of Health - Mission Specific Training
and the initial planning for the role out of the Comprehensive Soldier
Fitness program which we hope to profile next year.
systems has changed the nature and mechanism of injury; therefore,
health effect (personnel, medical equipment and training) will need to
be adaptive and responsive. The LBTS seeks to deliver this requirement
by providing a modular and scaled force, trained and equipped for this
need. The system focuses on providing quality, timely care from the
most forward deployed elements of the force through to the rapid
response, evacuation and stabilisation of casualties across the entire
battle space.
PAULATIM
The Forces Command Health Team comprises of: Col Charles New
(Reserve), LTCOL Paul Rogers, LTCOL David Collins, LTCOL Brian
Johnston, LTCOL Julie Finucane (Reserve) LTCOL Rod Pedersen
(Reserve) MAJ Mick Kent, MAJ Paul Morgan, MAJ Sean Kennaway,
MAJ GreG Brown (Reserve), CAPT Carol Waldeck, The mighty WO1
Team of Liz Matthews, Tania Harmer, Clay Baker and Lyn Daly and our
admininistrative support Officer – Hanna Al-Dainy.
ARMY HEALTH SUPPORT FORCE
MODERNISATION
From the on-set the notion of challenging the traditional paradigm
of Army health structures was going to be a tough call. However,
three years of analysis, review, discussion, argument and finally logic
identified that challenging the organisation to accept that a change
to those traditional structures was the only way forward was finally
agreed upon.
The challenge of recruiting and retaining qualified health personnel,
the demanding training regime, cost of medical equipment and clinical
governance requirements of a deployable health capability now
confronts the Army. The recognition of the Land Based Trauma System
(LBTS) within the ADF Combat Health Operating System (CHOS) enables
Army to rebalance its combat health to optimise its deployable effect
and redress employment structures issues. The size and mix of the
capabilities to be delivered to support the LBTS under the auspices of
the Combat Health Support (CHS) structure has been at the forefront
of considerations for Army health over the last three years.
The integration of the Full Time and Part Time health workforce was
part of the analysis and is articulated in the detail of the CHS structures.
Land Based Trauma System. Army health units now and into the
future will be required to conduct a multitude of tasks within a joint
taskforce setting, at short-notice, across the full spectrum of conflict.
The progress in design and subsequent introduction of various weapon
This system has been developed based upon the 10 minute – 60
minute – 2 hour metric. 1 This system is based on the guiding principles
of proximity and responsiveness and applied to land based operations.
The LBTS will introduce the following capability to Army CHS for Land
based operations as follows:
a. a structure capable of delivering a robust CHS effect further
forward on the battlefield;
b. establishment of new Shock Trauma and Aero-Medical Evacuation
capabilities;
c. a structure that addresses current clinical capability gaps in CHS,
such as the void of asset in 7 Bde;
d. a centralised CHS structure that facilitates better coordination of
support to meet Army RTS, MST and GHS requirements;
e. an enhanced structure to maximise the ‘high end’ ARES health
professional integration into Army health structures;
f. improved operational mental health training;
g. the establishment of the Combat Health Training Team (CHTT) that
the bridges the gap between extant individual training
establishments and those required to support foundation
warfighting and MST;
h. establishment of structures to support significant CA initiatives
related to Welfare Boards and management and rehabilitation of ill
and injured personnel; and
i. establishment of Aviation Medicine airworthiness health advice to
COMD FORCOMD.
j. Force Health Protection System. The Land Based Health
Protection System (LBHPS) has two sub-systems:
i. The Primary Health Care System (PHCS) provides primary
care to NSA standards where possible. PHCS facilities including
PA U L AT I M – M A GAZINE O F T HE R OYA L A U S T R A L I A N A R M Y M E DICAL C O R P S – 2 0 1 0 1 1