Preparing Army pharmacists for the future fight: An Army pharmacy critical care short course for large-scale combat...

Large-scale combat operations (LSCO) are expected to produce prolonged care scenarios characterized by delayed evacuation, limited resources, and high patient acuity. In these environments, Army pharmacists are increasingly relied upon to provide advanced clinical support, particularly in critical care and prolonged field care settings. However, traditional pharmacy training may not fully prepare pharmacists for these expanded roles. The aim of this article is to describe the need for an Army Pharmacy Critical Care Short Course to develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and attributes for deploying Army pharmacists to effectively and confidently support the casualties expected in the setting of prolonged care in LSCO. An Army Pharmacy Critical Care Short Course represents an important step in preparing Army pharmacists for the evolving demands of future LSCO. As future conflicts are expected to challenge traditional medical support paradigms, this course will provide a scalable and relevant training model that enhances readiness and supports the Army's goal of delivering high-quality pharmaceutical care across the continuum of combat operations.