FORT IRWIN, Calif.  –   For three days, Weed Army Community Hospital’s Emergency Room and Operating Room teams stepped into a training environment built to test their skill, speed, and coordination under pressure. Using the high-fidelity Cut Suit surgical simulation system, staff worked through some of the most challenging trauma scenarios with hands-on and hyper-realistic training designed to feel just like the real thing.

The course allowed teams to practice life-saving procedures such as exploratory laparotomy, thoracotomy, aortic clamping, splenic and renal interventions, and aggressive hemorrhage control. These scenarios represent the most time-critical moments in trauma care, where teamwork and clarity can be the difference between life and loss.

“This training puts our teams in the exact mindset they need when seconds matter,” said Dr. Adam Duncan, Emergency Room Chief. “It’s as close as you can get to real trauma without risking a patient. That realism forces communication, decisive action, and trust among the team.”

A major focus of the course was consolidating essential instruments for emergent heart and lung procedures, streamlining workflows, and giving OR technicians the opportunity to move as a seamless unit. The training also provided an uncommon luxury: time. With a relaxed three-day schedule, staff practiced foundational skills during the first days, then reinforced advanced ICTL and trauma competencies as they progressed, building confidence and precision through repetition.

“As a physician who supports patients across different stages of care, I saw tremendous value in how this training connected everyone’s role,” shared Dr. Juliann Gavin, DO, MC, of the Women’s Health Clinic. “It strengthened our understanding of trauma systems as a whole and reinforced how preparation, repetition, and teamwork translate directly to better outcomes.”

The event was conducted in partnership with Strategic Operations Medical, led by Dr. Reggie Franciose, a general surgeon with 25 years of Denver trauma experience and a decade of military-style operational work with a SWAT team. Dr. Franciose has spent the last 10 years developing advanced surgical simulation tools that behave like living tissue. This allows providers to clamp, suture, dissect, and control bleeding with stunning fidelity.

“We build these systems to reflect what providers actually see both in military and civilian trauma,” said Dr. Franciose. “Our goal is realism with purpose. From initial stabilization at the point of injury to surgical care in the hospital, this training prepares teams for the full arc of trauma response.”

Strategic Operations Medical continuously adapts their technology and instructional techniques to match current injury patterns across both military and civilian sectors. This ensures the training remains relevant, modern, and aligns with today’s operational demands.

That readiness imperative was highlighted by MAJ Mario Medina, NTC Surgeon Cell and Hospital Education & Training Chief.

“Maintaining trauma readiness in a low-volume setting like ours is a primary concern for the National Training Center. This hyper-realistic training is more than just a course; it’s a strategic readiness tool. It ensures our hospital’s emergency department and surgical teams are proficient and confident, ready to provide life-saving care to a Soldier from a rotational unit or any member of the Fort Irwin community at a moment’s notice. This directly supports Army Medicine’s mission to conserve the fighting strength and NTC’s motto to Lead, Train, Win.”

With plans to bring NTC partners, sister services, and community agencies into future Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) exercises, WACH continues to expand the reach of its high-impact, mission-focused training.  As coordination with MCLB Barstow, 29 Palms, Edwards Air Force Base, and local partners across Barstow and Victorville continues to strengthen, the hospital is laying the groundwork for larger, more integrated exercises that elevate readiness across the region and ensure every team can respond together confidently and at the highest standard of care.