a natural and understandable desire to retain in the area as many of his seasoned and
experienced personnel as possible. Such a practice not only maintains a high
experience level among his forces, but also diminishes the load on the replacement
system. The military objective of hospitalization and treatment is to return the maximum
number of patients to full duty within the shortest space of time and thereby reduce
losses in trained 'manpower.
4-7.
EVACUATION POLICY
a. The numbers and types of patients to be evacuated from a command are
governed by evacuation policies that are expressed in terms of days. For example, a
theater that evacuates out of the theater all patients requiring 30 or more days of
hospitalization is said to have a "30-day evacuation policy." Under such a policy, a
theater will retain for treatment in its own hospitals all patients who, it is expected, can
be returned to duty within 30 days. All others will be evacuated---not at the end of the
30-day period, but as soon as they are able to travel as soon as conveyances such as
aircraft and ships are available .
b. The evacuation policy, then, designates the maximum period during which
patients may be retained for treatment/convalescence at the medical facilities within a
command. In the combat zone, the evacuation policy may be very fluid, varying from
hour to hour and day to day in the forward elements of the combat divisions in
accordance with the TAC situation, the patient load (patients within any combat unit
restrict its movements), and the availability of health service support. In higher
commands, more rigid policies, allowing for longer treatment periods, are established to
minimize the loss of trained manpower to the command. A theater evacuation policy
may be established for any number of days; for example, one theater may have an
evacuation policy of 15 days whereas another theater may have one of 60 days.
Section II. HEALTH SERVICE SUPPORT OF THE DIVISION
4-8.
FIELD HEALTH SERVICE SUPPORT IN THE DIVISION
The health service support system in the division extends from the forward
operational areas of the combat battalions to the division rear boundary. Health service
support within the division is divided into two levels, known as unit level and division
level. Unit level health service support is provided by organic medical platoons or
sections in combat battalions, some CS battalions, DIVARTY headquarters and
headquarters battery, and division headquarters and headquarters company. Health
service support for units without organic medical platoons or sections is provided on an
area basis by the nearest medical unit in the geographical area. The FSB Medical
Company and the MSB Medical Support Company provide the division level health
service support.
a. Division Surgeon. As the surgeon, he is a special staff officer of the division
commander, working under the general staff supervision of the Army Chief of Staff
MD0002
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