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Posted to the CCRF Listserv 06 OCT 99:
This is to announce an opportunity for officers
to apply for and receive the Field Medical Readiness Badge (FMRB)
under the existing, original criteria before proposed revised criteria
are finalized. Officers who feel they have met the existing criteria,
should carefully review the criteria (reprinted below). Officers
interested in applying for the FMRB should submit their documentation
by October 30, 1999. The applications will be reviewed during
November; and a memo will be sent to DCP conveying badge recipients by
December 10, 1999. Officers should understand, if a review of the
officer's file finds the level of documentation inadequate or lacking
in any way - the officer will be notified of the deficiency and
advised they will be required to (resubmit at a later date to) meet
the revised criteria when it is finalized. Once the revised criteria
are finalized ALL submissions must meet those criteria.
BACKGROUND: When CCRF was placed within the Office of Emergency
Preparedness (OEP) the focus initially concentrated on revising the
database to more accurately reflect officers contact information,
knowledge, skills, and experiences to assist in more timely deployment
of officers to meet emergency public health needs; and creating a
means of reaching the majority of the officers instantaneously (i.e.,
create a website). Although this continues as a dynamic process,
considerable progress has been made to develop a workable system.
The next priority area identified was training. A revision of the
training curriculum was requested to more accurately reflect the
direction and need of CCRF officers across categories. With guidance
from the Surgeon General, the Chief Professional Officers, and a
Surgeon General's Policy Advisory Council on CCRF, the concept of
CCRF/OEP developing, presenting, and tracking completion of "core"
competencies for all officers and each professional category
developing relevant, appropriate category-specific training was agreed
upon. The "core" areas have been identified and CPOs and PACs are
working on category-specific needs. The final training curriculum
describing this issue is still being completed; but once it is
approved it will be fully explained and widely disseminated.
As each of these issues evolved, it became apparent a revision of the
FMRB criterion would be needed. Thus, while each of these issues were
being worked on NO - I repeat NO - documentation reviews for FMRBs
were performed.
The burden of responsibility remains with officers to submit adequate
documentation that all of the following criterion have been met (i.e.,
copies of ATLS certification, copies of training programs such as RED
Cross Disaster Nursing, proof of field/military deployments, etc.).
Remember, deadline for review under this criterion will be October 30,
1999.
The CURRENT qualifications for the FMRB (as developed when CCRF was
within the OSG) require the officer to submit documentation in the
following areas:
1. Military Organization/Field Command
- demonstrated knowledge of military system as shown by -
CCRF learning module, or
- military, reserve, or ROTC experience AND
- experience with field (military) deployments
2. Medical Knowledge/Experience
- demonstrated currency in BCLS/CPR AND Red Cross First Aid AND
- additional specialized requirements
- physicians - must have ATLS, ACLS or PALS cert.
- nurses - must have Red Cross Disaster Nursing
course; Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support Course; or Disaster Nursing
Course
- all others - First Responder course or EMT course
3. Sanitation / Field Survival
- demonstrated knowledge of personal hygiene (CCRF module)
AND
- experience in field military deployments
4. Field Knowledge / Experience
- demonstrated field competency experience (CCRF Keesler Model)
AND
- demonstrated experience in field military deployments
5. Physical Fitness / Field Physical Capability
- no more than 10% above the norm for PHS uniform height/weight
standards
AND
- ability to perform field activity
FOR OFFICERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE REVIEWED UNDER THESE CRITERION, they
must submit a complete package of information documenting proof of
having met all of the above criterion by October 30, 1999 to: CDR
Kathleen Downs, CCRF/OEP, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 360,
Rockville, Maryland 20857.
Officers who have previously submitted all necessary documentation (as
cited above) - but have not received the FMRB - because no reviews
were being conducted during this transition period and feel they
should have their file reviewed may send CDR Kathleen Downs an email
conveying this ("kdowns@osophs.dhhs.gov"). CDR Downs will review that
individual's file for completeness, if it is found to be missing ANY
of the above documentation - the officer will be notified and
requested to WAIT for the approval of the revised criterion and
resubmit at that time.
The revisions being proposed by CCRF/OEP to DCP are believed to more
accurately reflect what the FMRB is meant to symbolize - an officer
has achieved a certain of competency, skill and training to be fully
prepared to respond to emergency situations. As well as, the criteria
officers will be expected to display before deploying to emergency
situations (when that deployment is CCRF related); it will balance the
expectations with a symbol representing the attainment of those
objectives; and reduce duplication within the criterion for the CRSA
and NEPA (as both contain "deploying"). The receipt of the award would
be one-time provision. It would reflect that at the time of the award
- the officer met those criteria. Receipt of the FMRB would be
different from "eligibility to deploy" - that will require continued
demonstration (with recertification every two years) for all
competencies, skills, and training. It may be possible for someone to
receive the FMRB - but after two years if they don't apply for
recertification - to not be eligible to deploy. Individuals would
however, be able to continue wearing their badge.
The proposed revisions would reflect that an officer is competent,
skilled, and trained to be fully prepared to respond to emergency
situations. It is hoped that the proposed revisions will be reviewed
(and approved) soon. Once that is done, DCP will publish the criterion
in an official CCPM bulletin and CCRF will distribute the information
on our website.
Any officer who has recently joined the CCRF or not yet completed all
of the previous FMRB criterion is requested to wait for the approval
of these criteria. If the proposed revised criteria have NOT been
finalized by January 1, 2000 - another message will be sent advising
officers how to proceed.
Thank you for your patience and continued interest in CCRF.
CDR Kathleen Downs, RPh, MPH
Medical Readiness Coordinator/Education Specialist
Commissioned Corps Readiness Force
Office of Emergency Preparedness
12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 360
Rockville, Maryland 20857
email: kdowns@osophs.dhhs.gov
telephone: 301-443-1167 x954
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