1-3.
HEALTH SERVICE SUPPORT AREA CONCEPT
a. Under the Health Service Support Areas (HSSA) concept, the MEDCOM
coordinates medical care in six regions of the United States with command authority in
each region and subordinate commands for dental and veterinary services.
b. In November 1993, subordinate commands for the U.S. Dental Command
(DENCOM) and Veterinary Command (VETCOM) were provisionally activated. Under
the MEDCOM, Commanders of the Dental Service Support Areas (DSSA) integrate and
coordinate dental care within their geographic areas of operation. The DSSA are seven
regional organizations that parallel the Health Service Support Areas (HSSA) in the
medical arena. The VETCOM controls seven Veterinary Service Support Areas
(VSSA), whose boundaries may differ from the HSSA and DSSA because of Defense
Department responsibilities.
c. Six medical centers have command and control over medical treatment
facilities in their HSSA. These regional organizations are responsible for delivering
health care in the AMEDD structure. The HSSAs are headquartered at Walter Reed,
Eisenhower, Brooke, William Beaumont, Madigan, and Tripler Army Medical Centers.
1-4.
COMBAT HEALTH SUPPORT IN THE FIELD
a. Combat health support (CHS) is provided for the Army in the field in war and
peace by the utilization of a variety of medical modules and echelons of care. The
medical system is functionally designed to prevent, collect, assess, treat, evacuate, and
rehabilitate sick or injured soldiers. The combat health support system is designed to
project, sustain, and protect the health of the soldier in war and operations other than
war (OOTW). Consistent with strategic and tactical operations, CHS operates across all
operational levels, from the forward line of own troops (FLOT) to the continental United
States (CONUS) sustaining base. It is a system that provides continuous medical
management throughout all echelons of care.
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