4-3. NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR VSI/SI
a. Within CONUS. When the NOK and other authorized person and patient are
located within CONUS, the following notification procedures apply.
(1) Whenever the person to be notified is present at the MTF, then notification will
be made immediately by the attending physician.
(2) When the person to be notified is in the local area, the medical officer or
patient administrator/AOD notifies him by telephone.
(3) When the person to be notified is outside the local area, the medical officer or
Patient Administrator/AOD notifies him by telegraph or telephone. This notification is
immediately verified by letter when the NOK is not in proximity to the hospital and is not in
regular and frequent contact with the hospital or the patient.
b. Outside CONUS. When the NOK or other authorized persons are outside
CONUS and the patient is within CONUS, the following notification procedures apply:
(1) Patient administrator or AOD notifies the Casualty Area Commander (CAC).
(2) CAC notifies DA Casualty, Washington, DC via a casualty report.
(3) DA Casualty Branch notifies the major overseas commander (MOC).
(4) The MOC notifies next-of-kin (NOK) or other authorized person.
c. Civilian Hospital. When active duty military personnel are admitted to a civilian
hospital as "absent sick", the MTF commander who has administrative responsibility for
the patient is also responsible for notification procedures. The same procedures are
followed as for patients in the MTF.
d. Patient Outside CONUS. When the patient is located outside CONUS, the
official responsible for notification procedures is the commander of the major overseas
command within whose area the casualty occurred.
e. Ultimate Responsibility. The ultimate responsibility for all notification
procedures resides with the MTF commander. Verification of telegraphic or telephonic
notifications must be made immediately by letter. Written notification is required, because
of the possibility of a hoax.
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