6-8.
HOSPITALIZATION
Hospitals and other treatment facilities of the MEDCOM provide patients with the therapy
necessary to return them to duty or to prepare them for evacuation to the CONUS.
Hospitals are provided for the reception of patients from MTFs located both in the combat
zone and the COMMZ, and for direct admission from troop units located in the COMMZ.
The hospitalization units normally found in the COMMZ are discussed in Section Ill.
6-9.
PATIENT
Patient evacuation is closely related to treatment and includes care en route to
locations and facilities where more definitive treatment is provided. The MEDCOM is
responsible for coordinating and regulating both surface and air patient evacuation (US
Army and USAF) from the combat zone to the COMMZ and between medical facilities
within the COMMZ. The efficient accomplishment of this patient evacuation is complex
and requires detailed coordination. The operating procedure used is known as medical
regulating, which is discussed in general terms in Lesson 7.
a. Evacuation from Combat Zone. Medical evacuation of patients from the
combat zone to the COMMZ requires detailed planning and coordination between the
medical brigade/group at corps and the MEDCOM in the COMMZ. The MEDSOM also
coordinates evacuation requirements with the agencies controlling air transportation
assets.
(1) Evacuation by the United States Air Force. The USAF has the primary
responsibility for air evacuation of patients from the combat zone to the COMMZ. The
Army has no control over the type aircraft utilized by the USAF and can only recommend
the scheduling of the evacuation operation. In any event, the accomplishment of the air
evacuation mission will be in accordance with the flight schedule published by the USAF.
Tactical USAF aircraft bring cargo into the combat zone, are unloaded and quickly
configured to accommodate patients, take aboard a small USAF medical crew, load
patients, and return to the COMMZ.
(2) Evacuation by Army medical ambulance units. Ground ambulances
supplement air transportation when these means are not available or sufficient for the
mission, and when the distances involved are not too great. Evacuation missions are
accomplished by ambulance companies of COMMZ medical groups supporting the
combat zone.
b. Evacuation Within the COMMZ
(1) Medical evacuation units are placed throughout the COMMZ based on
population concentrations for evacuating sick or injured to an initial treatment facility or to
a subsequent facility for more definitive treatment. Arrangements for this support are
made between the treatment facilities concerned and the medical unit responsible for
furnishing evacuation support.
MD0002
6-9
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