b. For each patient that is moved to the rear there must be a replacement
brought forward. Therefore, it is essential that the health service support system avoid
evacuating patients of any type that can be rehabilitated in the various medical
installations of the corps. Critical evacuation of the time required for rehabilitation of
each patient, as opposed to the immobilization of medical installations by the
accumulation of patients, must be made prior to evacuation from combat zone
installations. The entire scheme of evacuation is based on the principle of providing
adequate care en route, the most rapid method, the shortest route, and the least
discomfort to the patient.
c. The responsibility for evacuating patients normally passes to the corps at the
division treatment stations; however, corps provides aeromedical EVAC of
nontransportable patients from any point within the division to a CSH.
5-22. MEDICAL AMBULANCE COMPANY (TABLE OF ORGANIZATION
AND EQUIPMENT 8-127)
This company, consisting of a company headquarters and three ambulance
platoons of 12 ambulances each, provides a single lift capability for evacuation of 144
litter patients or 288 ambulatory patients from division medical units to supporting
medical installations or evacuation points. It also evacuates patients from area medical
units within the combat lone. This company is assigned to corps medical brigade based
on one per division supported. It is also employed in the COMMZ based on one per two
divisions supported. For control purposes, this company is usually attached to a
headquarters and headquarters detachment, medical battalion. This is one of the few
corps level medical units having radio communications equipment. The unit is
employed to provide a ground evacuation means in areas of expected patient density.
This ambulance company maintains liaison not only with the unit from which it
evacuates patients, but also with the unit that is to receive the patients. In keeping with
the field health service support principle of continuity, the company provides en route
medical care for patients being moved. This unit may also be organized with 18 buses
(36-45 passenger) in lieu of the 36 ambulances (normally bus units will be in COMMZ).
This gives it a single lift capability for evacuation of 324 litter patients or 720 ambulatory
patients.
5-23. MEDICAL COLLECTING COMPANY (TABLE OF ORGANIZATION
AND EQUIPMENT 8-129)
The medical collecting company has the mission of providing litterbearer support
in the TO as required. The medical collecting company is capable of augmenting other
medical support units by providing the services of four litterbearer platoons of ten 4-man
litter squads each. The unit is organized into a company headquarters and four
identical collecting platoons. Company headquarters provides command and
administration, food service, and supply and motor maintenance for the unit. The unit is
attached to medical groups, medical companies, hospitals, or other medical treatment
facilities. Platoons or sections of the company may be employed to assist in loading
MD0002
5-21