Lt Col (ret) Roderick Fontenette, MD, FACEP

I hope this message finds all is well with you and your loved ones and that 2023 is shaping up to be one of your most productive years yet! The chapter has entered the new year financially strong and with excitement in the air as we plan to meet in Austin for GSS2023.  The Government Services Symposium is geared towards the unique mission of the military emergency medicine physician and those serving and practicing within the federal health system. Since its inception in 1977, the Government Services Chapter has continued to be the voice of its members and to live up to our mission statement to promote quality emergency care and enhance the development of emergency physicians who serve our nation from training through retirement.

CDR Christine DeForest, DO

ACEP works hard to help EM physicians working in the trenches, and while there is overlap between civilian and military facilities, there are also unique aspects to the care delivered in a Military MTF or VA hospital. To help guide our future advocacy efforts, the Government Services Chapter launched the 2023 GSACEP Member Engagement Survey. Members are encouraged to complete the survey within the upcoming month so that their personal experiences and needs can guide the work of our chapter’s Advocacy Committee. Read on to learn more about past successful advocacy efforts and ways that you can get involved.

Cpt Jacob Altholz, MD

This year’s annual GSS 2023 will be held in Austin, TX! This year’s symposium opens with COL (Ret) Paul Cordts, Deputy Assistant Director for the MHS discussing the future of our healthcare system. Our very own ACEP President Dr. Chris Kang will be providing ACEP leadership updates, a second year where a member of GSACEP holds the key leadership position. As a special treat, we will hear from experts at the Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute! Each afternoon will provide an opportunity to hone your skills with the labs and ultrasound stations we have set up included in registration. We’ll wrap up each day with receptions, Research Forums and a SIM War Superbowl at the rooftop bar!

Are you interested in getting more involved in GSACEP? Now is your chance! Nominations are now open for the following positions: President-Elect, Secretary/Treasurer, Councilor (x3) and Resident Representative. Open the full article for more information about the various positions and links to the nomination form.

Sean M Stuart, Megan L Bohan, Emily E Friedrich

Tactical Combat Casualty Care guidelines recommend packing junctional wounds with gauze, applying direct pressure for 3 minutes, and then securing with an external pressure dressing. This method is time-consuming, which can be problematic in a combat environment. Alternatively, the iTClamp has documented efficacy and rapid application. However, no studies have evaluated device application by military prehospital medical providers, such as Navy corpsmen, or their user experience with the device. The iTClamp is small, simple, and fast to use, but its wide adoption in the field may be based on limitations perceived by participants, including narrow indications for use. However, based on our findings, it is reasonable to field the iTClamp depending on provider preference.

Lt Col Torree McGowan, MD FACEP

Bernadette Carr passed away on October 2nd, 2022. She served as our GSACEP executive director from 1994 until 2018, the longest in GSACEP history.  Over those years, the chapter grew from a handful of people to one of the largest in ACEP. While she did not ever serve in uniform herself, she was absolutely ours and a fierce champion for our service members. Her leadership was the rock that our highly-changeable chapter was built on for decades, and her legacy continues to shape our chapter for generations of military and federal EM physicians.