NOTE: A critically injured or ill patient requiring life or limb saving treatment or
selective surgical procedures may be evacuated by air from point of injury or onset of
illness to the facility which can best satisfy the patient's needs.
Figure 4-1. Patient evacuation and hospitalization system.
(1) Unit level. Unit, or first level, health service support includes preventive
medicine activities, acquisition of the sick and wounded, first aid, emergency medical
treatment, routine outpatient care, and evacuation from the point of onset of illness or
injury to the unit aid station. Unit level health service support is usually provided by a
medical platoon or section of the headquarters company (battery or troop) of combat
and CS battalions (squadrons).
(2) Division level. Division, or second level, health service is the primary
functions of evacuating patients from unit level aid stations and providing initial
resuscitative treatment at treatment stations. It also includes health service support on
an area basis to units without organic medical personnel. The Forward Support Medical
Company provides division level health service support. In separate brigades and the
armored cavalry regiment, division level health service support is provided by assigned
elements or attached medical companies.
(3) Corps level. Corps, or third level health service support, has the main
functions of evacuating patients from divisional and non-divisional units and providing
resuscitative and definitive medical treatment. Corps health service support is provided
by medical units operating in the corps area under the direction of MEDCOM and
control elements (medical group or medical brigade).
(4) Communications zone echelon (level). Communications zone, or fourth
level (Echelon 4), health service support has the functions of surface evacuation of
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