4 August 2025

From Research to Readiness: Madigan’s REC3ON Team Delivers Lifesaving Tools for Deployed Trauma Care

The Research for Combat Casualty Care Operations Network (REC³ON) team at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, WA, is translating research into action by publishing a new manuscript that is already influencing battlefield medicine. This recent study, published in the American Journal of Surgery, doesn’t just stay on paper. It’s paired with training and troubleshooting videos designed to support deployed military medical teams in managing complex trauma cases in-flight.

Operational Impact That Travels

The study, which focuses on Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT)—commonly known as Wound Vacs—addresses a critical gap in deployed trauma care: how to effectively manage these devices in austere, airborne environments. As more wounded service members are being evacuated with Wound Vacs already in place, the need for in-transit guidance has become increasingly urgent.

Training That’s Accessible, Anywhere

Funded by the USAF 59th Medical Wing and brought to life in collaboration with Madigan’s Visual Information team, the REC³ON videos are more than just a supplement, they’re a mission-critical resource. Designed for just-in-time learning, these five high-impact modules provide step-by-step guidance on managing Wound Vacs during casualty transport, bridging the knowledge gap for medics and non-surgical providers operating in austere and airborne environments.

Hosted on the Joint Trauma System’s Deployed Medicine site, the Defense Health Agency’s platform for field-ready training, the videos are easily downloadable and accessible via mobile app or browser. And here’s what’s truly game-changing: they’re available to everyone, not just those within the DoD. Whether you’re a CCATT medic preparing for deployment or a civilian trauma provider seeking operational best practices, these tools are designed to deliver real-world impact at the point of need.

Access the Wound Vac Training Videos on Deployed Medicine

Mission-Driven Collaboration

“This project is a textbook example of translational research with immediate operational relevance,” said REC³ON Research Program Manager, Allison Edinger. “By combining clinical investigation, strategic funding, and innovative communications, the REC³ON team advanced a solution that directly strengthens force readiness and improves trauma care outcomes.”

In an environment where seconds save lives, having the proper training at the right moment can mean the difference between recovery and risk. The REC³ON team’s work demonstrates how agile research, embedded expertise, and cross-sector partnerships can overcome the “Valley of Death” and deliver results, from bench to battlefield.

This research will be presented as a poster during Poster Session 1 on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, at the Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) in Kissimmee, FL.