Implementing a Resident-Led Corpsman Trauma Resuscitation Curriculum: A Pilot Quality Improvement Initiative

Introduction: Hospital Corpsmen (HMs) play a critical role in frontline trauma care within the Navy and Marine Corps, although recent needs assessments have identified significant gaps in trauma readiness. This study aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a simulation-based trauma resuscitation curriculum for Emergency Department (EMED) HMs at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP), the Navy's only civilian level II trauma center. Methods: A resident-led trauma curriculum was developed using Kern's framework. Didactic content was delivered via a flipped classroom model, followed by biweekly high-fidelity simulation sessions. Pre - and post-course confidence levels were measured using Likert-style assessments. HMs were also evaluated on objective trauma resuscitation metrics, including time-to-task completion and critical action performance during standardized simulation scenarios. Open-ended feedback was coded into themes and summarized. Results: Seventeen HMs completed the course. Statistically significant gains were observed in confidence for assessing the disability domain of trauma assessment (p=0.0064), assisting with resuscitative thoracotomy (p=0.0003), and setting up chest drainage systems (p=0.0050). While improvements in other domains trended positively, they did not reach statistical significance. Post-course simulations demonstrated decreased variability in scenario completion time (SD from 6.08 to 1.47 minutes, p=0.0074), indicating improved consistency. Subjective feedback highlighted the value of hands-on learning and called for broader curriculum implementation. Conclusions: This trauma curriculum significantly improved corpsmen confidence and standardized trauma resuscitation performance. Hands-on simulation and direct physician mentorship were identified as key drivers of learning. Broader adoption of this training model may enhance trauma readiness among Navy HMs preparing for large-scale combat operation (LSCO) environments.