PORTSMOUTH, Virg.  –   PORTSMOUTH, Va. (Feb. 9, 2022) –Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) hosted an Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET+) course, Feb. 1-2.

ASSET+ is an upgraded modification of the original ASSET course, and it is a cadaver-based, anatomical review of surgical exposures in the neck, torso and extremities to allow for rapid control of bleeding in injured patients.

“As NMCP becomes a trauma center, all of our surgeons will be expected to manage trauma although most are not specifically trained in trauma surgery,” said Cmdr. Timothy Donahue, NMCP’s Trauma Medical director.

“This course provides a refresher or, in some cases, new techniques which ultimately will save lives and improve outcomes.”

ASSET+ has a teacher to student ratio of 1:1, and it is a two-day course. This is in contrast to the original ASSET course of a teacher to student ratio of 1:4 and it being only a one day course. Additionally, ASSET+ includes the topics of neurosurgery, OB/GYN, ophthalmology, and orthopedics.

“Review of techniques to rapidly control hemorrhage is essential for the general surgeon who does not routinely practice trauma surgery,” said Donahue. “Just as every Marine is a rifleman, every deployed Navy surgeon is a trauma surgeon.”

As the U.S. Navy's oldest, continuously-operating military hospital since 1830, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth proudly serves past and present military members and their families. The nationally-acclaimed, state-of-the-art medical center, along with the area's 10 branch health and TRICARE Prime Clinics, provide care for the Hampton Roads area. The medical center also supports premier research and teaching programs designed to prepare new doctors, nurses and hospital corpsman for future roles in healing and wellness.