SAFE RETURN HOME Karen Biancolillo, RN EM Program Officer, VACO

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SAFE RETURN HOME Karen Biancolillo, RNEM
Program Officer, VACO

• 2009 VHA National Field Deployment Training Event
• Lexington, KY
• June 22-26, 2009

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Safe Return Home

• OBJECTIVES
• Describe process for ensuring staffs safe return
  to duty station
• Define processes for capturing After Action
  Review information
• Relay importance of improving FMS capability for
  future deployments
• Illustrate lessons learned from previous
  deployments

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Safe Return Home

• FMS Out - Processing Procedures
• This will be different based on deployment
  situations.
• Check with supervisor or member of the SMT
• Participate in staff transition briefings / town
  hall meetings
• After Action Reports
• Debriefing, lessons learned

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Safe Return Home

• Verification of the transfer/return of vehicle
  keys and receipts
• Return of any specialized equipment
• Procedures will vary based on if you are
  transferring work to another team or closing down
  the FMS.

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Safe Return Home

• Documents
• Time cards completed and signed
• The best and worst about my deployment
• Injury / illness reports home station will get
  a copy of all reports
• Travel arrangements
• Flights home
• Transportation to the airport
• Upon return to duty, it is highly recommended you
  see the employee health practitioner for any
  follow-up and final documentation.

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Safe Return Home

• Based on facility / VISN policy for AA upon
  return to home station
• Sit down with your supervisor and provide an
  overview of the experience
• Offer to present during staff meeting
• DEMPS recruitment forums
• Make an appointment to see Employee Health
• Update your information in the DEMPS database.
• Access to counseling and debriefing.

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Safe Return Home

• Self Care A Proactive resiliency model
• Professional preparedness at the institutional,
  unit and deployment team level
• Professional stress management strategies during
  and after assignment
• Personal preparedness/readiness plan before
  deployment.