Eglin hosts medical law symposium

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  More than 300 Air Force personnel attended a medical ethics and law symposium held here, Feb. 13.

The symposium is a continuing education requirement for medical workers to maintain a medical license. To ensure as many Air Force medical employees could attend as possible, staff from Keesler, Tyndall, Hurlburt Field and Pensacola Naval Air Station were invited as well. Because of the legal subject matter, more than 10 judge advocate general employees attended and earned continuing legal education credits.

"This event greatly reduces the amount of money the (96th) Medical Group spends on individual trips to accomplish CMEs," said Capt. Khela Von Linsowe, a medical law consultant stationed here. "This event provides the best use of TDY resources for the training value the Air Force will receive."

To keep costs down, the attendees were not on TDY status. Personnel from other bases carpooled in government vehicles and the training was deemed an alternate duty location.

The briefings covered generalized topics such as medical ethics and mitigating litigation risk. Attendees received three CME credits for participating in the event.

"Providers and nurses were afforded a platform to have frank discussions regarding how we practice medicine within the Air Force," said Col. Gianna Zeh, the 96th Medical Group commander. "The take home message was we need to be diligent in how we communicate with one another as caregivers as well as how we communicate with our patients. Always document, remain objective and compassionate and never forget the humanity of our profession."