LESSON 4
HEALTH SERVICE SUPPORT, ARMY DIVISIONS
Section I. FIELD HEALTH SERVICE SUPPORT
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MISSION
The Army Medical Department (AMEDD) is a supporting service of the combat
elements of the Army. The mission of field health service support is to conserve
manpower by planning, recommending, and supervising the implementation of
measures necessary for safeguarding the health of the troops, and for providing medical
treatment and rapid evacuation of the sick and wounded.
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FUNCTIONS
The general functions of health service support are acquisition of the sick and
wounded; treatment; evacuation; preventive medicine; medical supply and maintenance
of medical equipment; dental, veterinary, laboratory, and optometric services; blood
management; medical intelligence; medical administration; and command and control of
medical units. In addition, medical assistance to civilians is provided within the limits of
available resources.
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PRINCIPLES
The operation of health service support is based upon the following fundamental
principles:
a. Continuity. Health service support must be continuous. Interruption in
continuity of treatment will cause an increase in morbidity and mortality. Once begun,
treatment does not terminate until the patient has been returned to duty or discharged
from the service. Procedures should be standardized at each level to assure
accomplishment of all required treatment and other medical functions appropriate to the
means and the situation at that level.
(1) The hospitalization-evacuation system is based on the doctrine that the
next higher echelon supports subordinate elements. Usually no level of health service
support is given the responsibility for evacuation beyond its rearmost medical facility.
(2) No patient is evacuated farther to the rear than his physical condition
warrants or the military situation requires. The evacuation policy of the command
designates the maximum length of time patients may be retained for treatment within
the command. Patients who cannot be returned to duty within the prescribed time are
evacuated as soon as their condition permits.
MD0002
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