The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) Medical Clinic is classified as an Advanced Life Support Facility and is equipped with facilities, services and employees certified in the stabilization of critical illnesses and injuries.

“Advanced life support is an identifier that basically states medical staff in our clinic and on our ambulances can perform advanced skills for emergency life saving requirements,” said Dan Bird, medical services manager.

All medical staff, ranging from physician to paramedics, are certified in advanced life support, including critical injuries such as advanced cardiac, trauma, stroke and burn life support.

“Our medical staff members can perform skills and administer medications that can’t be done by a basic life support facility,” said Bird.

The PCAPP medical staff generally does not diagnose illnesses, but rather identifies abnormalities, and makes the recommendation for people to see their personal physicians for a proper diagnosis. This has helped PCAPP employees discover illnesses that may not have been caught otherwise, Bird said.

“Due to our occupational health screening requirements, we draw blood for laboratory analysis,” said Bird. “On several occasions we have received abnormal laboratory values, which upon further investigation, have been used to identify multiple diseases.”

Some critical cases, including two cardiac arrests, have been stabilized thanks to the medical team, Bird said.

“On the PCAPP project, safety is paramount,” said Rick Holmes, Bechtel Pueblo Team project manager. “We take care of each other and rely on cardio pulmonary resuscitation training as a vehicle to make sure our workforce can take care of each other should something happen.”