Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Richard Hudson (R-NC) have reintroduced a bipartisan bill that authorizes Department of Defense (DOD) trauma surgeons to operate in civilian trauma centers. The bill aims to address emergency care shortages.
The bill explicitly reauthorizes the MISSION ZERO Act, which was signed into law in June 2019. As the American College of Surgeons described, the MISSION ZERO Act's benefits cut both ways: the best practices for treating traumatic injuries on the battlefield are available to civilians, and military trauma surgeons gain experience and exposure without leaving the Armed Forces.
In her press release, Rep. Castor highlighted how MacDill Air Force Base and Tampa General Hospital "have led the way in 'full team' training, bringing together military and civilian nurses, surgeons, and specialists to hone their trauma care skills."
She continued that such innovation provided the impetus for reintroducing the bill, saying, "The law provides ongoing support for military and civilian medical teams to train side-by-side in high-pressure environments, ensuring they are always ready to assist our service members and communities. This is a win-win for improving our nation's civilian emergency response capacity and keeping military providers' skills sharp off the battlefield."
"I take pride that Tampa General was among the first in the nation to receive a MISSION ZERO grant, and I am committed to promoting this initiative that fosters these life-saving collaborations," Rep. Castor concluded.
Rep. Hudson, the bill's cosponsor, said, "As Fort Bragg's Congressman, I know how important it is for our military trauma teams to retain their unique medical skills off the battlefield."
"This commonsense legislation will continue to support partnerships between our military and civilian trauma providers to ensure critical, life-saving care is always readily available for patients," Rep. Hudson added.
Coincidentally, the MISSION ZERO Reauthorization Act is the second bill related to emergency medical services passed in 2019 that Castor has been involved in recently. At the beginning of January, Castor celebrated the passage of the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Reauthorization Act of 2024 into law.
