LESSON 1
INTRODUCTION TO THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM
1-1. GENERAL
Patient Administration is designed to provide administrative services to support the
health care delivery mission of an Army medical treatment facility (MTF). This
subcourse will describe the Army health care delivery system, define the mission and
functions of the Patient Administration Division, and introduce medical recordkeeping.
1-2. ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT AND MEDICAL
COMMAND (MEDCOM)
a.
Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Organization and Mission.
(1)
The Army Medical Department (AMEDD) consists of The Surgeon
General; the Deputy Surgeon General; six officer corps; warrant officers; enlisted
personnel; civilian employees; contracted physicians; and those facilities, supplies, and
equipment which are necessary to carry out its mission and functions. The six corps of
commissioned officers are the Medical Corps (MC), the Dental Corps (DC), the
Veterinary Corps (VC), the Army Nurse Corps (AN), the Medical Service Corps (MS),
and the Army Medical Specialist Corps (SP). The titles of the several corps are
indicative of their professional functions. Army Medical Department insignia are shown
(2)
The mission of the Army Medical Department is to maintain the health
of the Army and to conserve its fighting strength. The Army Medical Department has
the responsibility for all medical services which are provided within the Department of
the Army. The Army Medical Department is a completely functionalized, Army-wide
system that includes all services related to the health of the Army and to the care and
treatment of patients. These services include hospitalization, evacuation, dental
service, veterinary service, laboratory service, optometry service, preventive medicine
service, pharmacy service, and medical materiel management and maintenance
services--all of which are interwoven with patient care. The needs of the patient are
paramount.
b.
Office of The Surgeon General, Department of the Army.
(1)
The Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG) is responsible for the
development, policy direction, organization, and overall management of an integrated
Army-wide health services system. On health and medical matters, including the
utilization of Army Medical Department professional personnel, OTSG has direct access
to the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff. In discharging his responsibilities,
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