The Independent Duty Medical Technician (IDMT) course provides mandatory training for members of the Air Force AFSC 4N0X1 prior to assignment to remote or isolated duty stations; medical support of non-medical field units; or medical support to other government agencies and joint service missions as directed by DoD.
The instructional design of this course’s courses is group-lock step. The IDMT course is a single military service program that has a two phase, field of study schedule. Resident training is first conducted at the METC and then the student transitions to clinical training that is conducted at military medical treatment facilities (MTF).
Upon entry to METC, students are provided formal education and training that develops them into qualified Independent Duty Medical Technicians within fixed and deployable medical facilities.
Training includes: obtaining medical histories, examinations, assessments, treatments and documentation of patient care in the absence of a physician, as well as emergency medical, dental, and surgical procedures to stabilize patients until medical evacuation occurs. Further instruction in general knowledge and procedural skills for medical administration, monitoring medical aspects of special interest programs and health promotions, advanced medication administration and dispensary operation, and low complexity laboratory procedures.
The course also addresses procedures for conducting occupational health services, preventive medicine, field hygiene, and food/water safety inspections in lieu of public health and bioenvironmental health personnel. Methods of instruction include, but are not limited to: lecture, demonstration, online materials, simulations, laboratory practice, and practical exercises. Quality control and safety techniques are emphasized throughout the course.
Clinical training provides students with clinical knowledge and hands-on experiential training which consists of clinical practicum in an acute care setting at an MTF. Under the purview of a licensed physician, students are given adult patients to provide a systemic review of signs, symptoms and treatments of medical conditions likely to be encountered in military populations.
Students must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performing patient evaluation to include patient history, physical examination, appropriate diagnostic studies and written documentation with no instructor assists. Proficiency advancement in clinical applications is determined by the program director and clinical advisor/coordinator on a case-by-case basis