Israel Medical Association Journal

Background: Military medicine has evolved significantly over the past 50 years, advancing from basic treatments and limited evacuations to sophisticated combat casualty care. Innovations such as hemorrhage control, early blood product administration, and telemedicine have greatly improved battlefield care. Rapid evacuation systems and skilled medical teams have reduced mortality and morbidity rates.

Objectives: To review the transformation of the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps (IDF-MC) in combat casualty care over the past 50 years, focusing on recent applications during the Iron Swords war.

Methods: Data were collected from the personal experiences of IDF-MC doctors, IDF archives, and relevant military medical literature, with an emphasis on life-saving strategies, personnel, equipment, mental health support, and civil–military cooperation.

Results: Rapid evacuation and immediate care have improved survival rates, while increased front-line deployment of medical staff has enhanced response capabilities. Modern medical tools and techniques, such as tourniquets and blood products, have been widely adopted. Improved psychological support strategies ensure better mental health outcomes for soldiers. Enhanced coordination with civilian trauma systems optimizes care and resource allocation, leading to more efficient and effective casualty treatment.

Conclusions: The IDF-MC's advancements in rapid evacuation and front-line medical support have significantly improved combat casualty outcomes. Continued innovation and collaboration with civilian systems are essential for further progress in military medicine. Future technological advancements are anticipated to further enhance military medical care.

Background: During the past 6 years the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps (IDF-MC) deployed three humanitarian delegation field hospitals (HDFHs) in disaster zones around the globe: Haiti (2010), the Philippines (2013), and Nepal (2015). 

Objectives: To compare the activity of these HDFHs and the characteristics of the patients they served.

Methods: This retrospective study was based on the HDFHs’ operation logs and patients medical records. The study population included both the staff who participated and the patients who were treated in any of the three HDFHs.

Results: The Philippine HDFH was a "hybrid" type, i.e., it was integrated with a local hospital. Both the Haitian and the Nepali HDFHs were the "stand-alone" type, i.e., were completely autonomic in resources and in function. The Nepali HDFH had a larger staff, departed from Israel 4 hours earlier and was active 7 hours earlier as compared to the Haitian one. In total, 5465 patients, 55% of them female, were treated in the three HDFHs. In Haiti, Nepal and the Philippines, disaster-related injuries accounted for 66%, 26% and 2% of the cases, respectively. Disaster-related injuries presented mainly in the first days of the HDFHs' activity.

Conclusions: The next HDFH should be planned to care for a significant proportion of routine medical illnesses. The IDF-MC continuous learning process will enable future HDFHs to save more lives as we "extend a helping hand" to foreign populations in crisis. 

 

Objectives: To determine the number of incidents of trauma encountered by medics in the Israel Defense Forces during peacetime, and to ascertain the role of these medics in providing primary trauma care to the victims.

Methods: A retrospective questionnaire, reviewing the activities of medics in treating injured trauma victims, was distributed to medics who were in service for at least 2 years after their professional training.

Results: Of the 128 responding medics, 87 (68%) had actively participated in the treatment of trauma victims under various circumstances. The average number of trauma events was 1.2 events over a period of 2 years per combat medic, and 0.7 for medics stationed in rear units. Their activities included insertion of numerous intravenous fluid lines (57% of medics), assistance in intubations (37%), tube thoracostomies (23%), insertions of central catheters (14%) or orogastric tubes (28%), and manual ventilations (41%).

Conclusion: Since it is difficult to increase the level of practical experience in dealing with trauma within the military framework, new techniques should be applied to improve the trauma training.