command and control over AMEDD facilities, activities, or units (other than TOE units)
located within its HSA. It may also provide administrative and logistical support to other
AMEDD organizations over which it does not exercise command or operational control
such as U.S. Army Medical Laboratories or U.S. Army Dental Activities.
1-3. RESPONSIBILITIES
a.
Unit Commander. The unit commander of uniformed services personnel
refers individuals needing medical care to the medical treatment facility that provides
primary health care to the unit. DD Form 689 (Individual Sick Slip) may be used as an
informal memorandum that provides a means of exchanging information between the
unit commander and the attending medical/dental officer. Although "line of duty" is no
longer entered on the form, the information supplied by the unit commander and the
evaluation by the medical/dental officer provide a basis for determination of line of duty.
The form is ordinarily initiated by the unit commander and is hand-carried by the patient,
but it may be initiated by the attending medical/dental officer and sent to the unit
commander when a patient reports directly to the medical treatment facility in
accordance with local procedures or in an emergency. The Individual Sick Slip is not a
permanent record, and it will be destroyed after accomplishing its intended purposes.
b.
Medical Treatment Facility Commander. The commander of an Army
MTF, including an Army hospital organized under a Medical Department Activity
(MEDDAC) or an Army medical center, is responsible for determining which persons
within the various categories authorized health care will receive treatment in, be
admitted to, or be dispositioned from the facility. The commander is also responsible for
supervising care and treatment measures so that each patient is provided the best
possible care in keeping with professional standards and the rules of land warfare.
Although authority is delegated to members of the staff who make
decisions pertaining to admissions, treatment measures, and dispositions, the
commander is responsible for interpreting Department of the Army policies for guidance
of staff personnel. One such policy incorporates three requirements for a person's
admission to an Army medical treatment facility:
(1)
First and foremost, a physician/dentist on the medical treatment facility
staff must indicate that the patient's condition warrants hospitalization.
(2)
The patient seeking admission must be authorized by current
regulations and directives to receive care.
(3)
The type of treatment or care required by the patient must also be
authorized by current regulations and directives.
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