Mar

6

IDMT spells “Amazing!”

Filed Under AFMS Careers, AFMS People 

Not too many people know what an Independent Duty Medical Technician (IDMT) is, or what he (or she) does. You’d be surprised at the amount of responsibility IDMTs take on by accepting the unique challenge of becoming an IDMT. In the “pyramid” of the direct-care health professions, IDMTs fall somewhere in between regular medical technicians and physician-assistants (PAs). In addition to receiving the standard medical technician training, IDMTs also undergo an intense advanced training course, during which they learn more comprehensive techniques and treatments. IDMTs are traditionally assigned to remote locations where healthcare needs exist, but economics or other factors prohibit assigning a full-time physician. Thus, IDMTs are often the sole provider for a particular location, a role that finds them stitching wounds, dispensing medicine, performing dental care, and other such injuries and illness. In addition, IDMTs are also trained in public health, bioenvironmental engineering, food and water safety, and other operational medicine skills. In my experience, IDMTs are amazing people and awesome providers. And now for some IDMT links!

General overview of roles, responsibilities, and sklls of IDMTs
The IDMT Association: great resource, including discussion forums
Training summary for each of the three service IDMTs
Biography of CMSgt Suttles, an IDMT who is now Command Chief at Vance AFB
Memorial site to CMSgt Bill Schaub, an incredible IDMT and friend of mine
Navy equivalent of IDMT is the IDC - Independent Duty Corpsman
MSgt Carlos Diaz is known as “Doc” to his patients
SSgt Jake Leyva, an IDMT in a warzone, talks about his role
There’s even an IDMT on MySpace!



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