AF Form 3899L: Patient Movement Record En Route Critical Care

AF Form 3899L: Patient Movement Record En Route Critical Care – The AF Form 3899L, officially titled Patient Movement Record En Route Critical Care, is a specialized U.S. Air Force form used to document the care of critically ill or injured patients during aeromedical evacuation (AE) and Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) missions. It serves as a permanent medical record that ensures continuity of care from the sending medical treatment facility (MTF) through in-flight management to the receiving facility.

This form is part of the broader AF Form 3899 series and is specifically designed for En Route Critical Care (ERCC) scenarios where patients require advanced life support, mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, or other intensive interventions during flight.

What Is AF Form 3899L Used For?

AF Form 3899L is the primary documentation tool for Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT) and En Route Critical Care providers. It records:

  • Patient identification and mission details
  • Pre-flight and post-flight clinical assessments
  • Vital signs, laboratory values (including ABGs), and physiologic monitoring
  • Interventions, medications, procedures, and major events during transport
  • Medical decision-making and handoff information

The form ensures that the receiving team at the destination MTF has a complete, chronological record of the patient’s status and care provided en route. A copy of the completed form (and supporting 3899-series attachments) must accompany the patient and is forwarded to the CCATT Pilot Unit for quality improvement, research, and archiving.

Key governing documents include:

  • DAFI 48-107V3 (En Route Care and Aeromedical Evacuation Medical Operations)
  • AFTTP 3-42.51 (Critical Care Air Transport Team)

These publications emphasize that the CCATT physician is responsible for ensuring proper completion of the AF Form 3899L.

Who Uses AF Form 3899L?

  • CCATT teams (physician, critical care nurse, respiratory therapist)
  • En Route Critical Care (ERCC) providers
  • Aeromedical Evacuation Crew Members (AECMs) when patients escalate to critical care level during flight
  • Medical personnel involved in inter-facility or strategic patient movement within the U.S. Air Force aeromedical evacuation system

It is not the primary form for routine (non-critical) AE patients; standard AF Form 3899 or other series variants are used in those cases.

Key Sections of AF Form 3899L (2024 Edition Overview)

The form (revised 20140107, V2.0) is two-sided and highly structured for efficient documentation under austere or high-workload conditions. Major sections include:

Front Side:

  • Patient Identification: Name, SSN, CITE #, age, sex, weight, height, allergies, precedence.
  • Mission Details: Originating and destination facilities, aircraft/tail number, hours en route, CCATT information.
  • Diagnosis & Altitude/Oxygen Requirements: Includes ventilator settings (mode, FiO2, TV, rate, PEEP), ETT details, and altitude restrictions.
  • Pre- and Post-Flight Assessments: Comprehensive head-to-toe evaluation covering neurologic (GCS, pupils), cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and integumentary systems.
  • Lines, Tubes, Drains, and IV Fluids.
  • Major Events (e.g., SpO2 <90%, ΔMAP >20%, arrhythmia, bleeding, equipment issues).
  • Procedures Performed En Route.
  • Care Provided in Flight (ventilation, blood products, sedation, etc.).
  • Medications/Drips/Tube Feeds with dose/time and RX received/waste/turnover.
  • Signatures from RT, RN, and MD.

Back Side:

  • Detailed flowsheet for ABGs, electrolytes, input/output totals.
  • In-flight notes and physician orders.
  • Anatomic diagram for wound/injury documentation.

The form includes checkboxes for rapid documentation and dedicated spaces for narrative comments, making it suitable for both paper and scanned electronic health record integration.

Privacy Note: All versions prominently state that the data is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974 and constitutes part of the permanent medical record.

How to Download the Official AF Form 3899L?

The most current fillable PDF is available directly from the official Air Force e-Publishing site:

→ Download AF Form 3899L PDF: https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_sg/form/af3899l/3899l.pdf

Always verify you are using the latest version through the Air Force e-Publishing portal or your unit’s medical operations section. Blank forms from the 3899 series are also referenced in TRAC2ES (TRANSCOM Regulating and Command & Control Evacuation System).

Why Proper Completion of AF Form 3899L Matters?

  • Patient Safety & Continuity: Ensures seamless handoff between facilities and teams.
  • Legal & Quality Improvement: Serves as the official record of care during transport and supports performance improvement programs.
  • Research & Readiness: Data from completed 3899L forms contribute to studies on en route care, such as utilization patterns in CCATT missions.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Incomplete or missing documentation can delay patient movement or create gaps in the medical record.

Best Practice Tip: The CCATT physician should review and ensure all applicable fields are completed. Use supplemental 3899-series forms (e.g., 3899I for medications, 3899K for resuscitation) when additional space or detail is needed, but do not substitute them for the 3899L in critical care transports.

  • AF Form 3899 – Standard Patient Movement Record (routine AE)
  • AF Form 3899H – Neurological Assessment
  • AF Form 3899I – Medication Record
  • AF Form 3899K – In-Flight Resuscitation Flow Sheet
  • Others (M, N, etc.) for specialized handoffs and adjuncts

Need Help with AF Form 3899L?

Military medical personnel should consult their local Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, CCATT Pilot Unit, or reference DAFI 48-107V3 for detailed guidance. For mission-specific questions, contact the appropriate Patient Movement Requirements Center (PMRC) or the CCATT Pilot Unit (59th Medical Wing).

Download Link Reminder:
Official AF Form 3899L PDF

This article is for informational purposes and reflects publicly available U.S. Air Force publications and guidance as of 2026. Always refer to the latest official instructions and your chain of command for operational use.

Keywords: AF Form 3899L, Patient Movement Record En Route Critical Care, CCATT documentation, aeromedical evacuation forms, Critical Care Air Transport Team, AFI 48-107, en route care record.