Congressman Cohen Obtains $1.6 Million for University of Memphis Battlefield Nursing Program

H. R. 2638 includes a $1.6 million appropriation for the University of Memphis, requested by Congressman Cohen in a letter to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton on March 13, 2008. The university will use these funds to develop a battlefield nursing program utilizing enhanced, state of the art procedures, techniques and equipment to train U.S. nursing students.

“I am very pleased that we were able to get this vital funding for the U of M to offer battlefield nursing training,” said Congressman Cohen. “By integrating the efforts of experts from a wide range of disciplines, this program will develop curricula to deliver world-class academic battlefield nursing training. The program will teach nursing students how to respond to terrorist attacks or weapons of mass destruction. The project will also continue to offer training for the U.S. military nursing corps, which is critical to providing the most up-to-date medical services for our U.S. combat personnel. Battlefield nursing training not only benefits military personnel in combat, but it can be used in the homeland when our nation is hit with natural disasters or man-made catastrophes such as chemical spills or terrorist attacks.”

Project objectives include:

• Assessment of current training needs and requirements,
• Establishment of a multi-disciplinary Curriculum Review Committee comprised of military and civilian nursing and healthcare professionals
• Design and development of enhanced military nurse training curricula
• Integration of military nursing cadre into existing educational specialty environments and institutions
• Development of sustainment training through outcome and program evaluation processes
• Development of an annual conference with strategic focus to bring together civilian and military education and training expertise to explore more innovations in medical and nursing technologies for application to newly identified military/combat nursing needs

In addition to the Battlefield Nursing appropriation, the Continuing Resolution included $1.6 million for other Department of Defense projects in the 9th District requested by Congressman Cohen, including: $800,000 for Smith and Nephew for developing a new trauma hemostat – a surgical tool used to manage severe blood loss – for use in conflict situations, and $800,000 for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center to be used to for a study into new drugs for battlefield treatment of hemorrhagic shock.

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, 202-225-3265
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, 202-225-3265