Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search
File: 110196_aacbg_05.txt
personnel. Transportation of casualties between ASFs and medical
treatment facilities was by ground and helicopter, part of which was
provided by German and Canadian resources.
CONTINGENCY HOSPITAL ACTIVATION
Contingency hospital development began in 1982, and remains an
ongoing process with a caretaker force at each facility. The initial
emphasis was on obtaining buildings of opportunity, completing
construction projects for structural integrity or functionality, and
procuring medical supplies and equipment. While contingency hospitals
have been exercised, no hospital had been fully activated due to the
tremendous costs in manpower and materiel. Activation time frames
were estimations based on task requirements and, to some degree,
information gained from exercises. Task examples include cleaning bed
linens and making beds, building surgical instrument packs, and
calibrating medical instruments.
Concurrent with the decision to use four USAFE contingency
hospitals, We respective caretaker forces initiated activation plans.
To facilitate activation efforts, three clinical teams were formed to
review the status of each activating facility. On 30 Oct 90 the teams
began evaluating facilities, equipment, and supplies to determine
shortfalls and to anticipate any other augmenting staff requirements.
Within two weeks, the majority of shortfalls had been identified for
immediate acquisition and equipment verified as ready for use. With
final preparations accomplished, the contingency hospitals at
RAF Bicester UK, RAF Little Rissington UK, and Zweibrucken GE were
functionally ready to receive patients on 14 Nov 90; RAF Nocton Hall
UK was ready near the end of November. At this point, the only
missing resource was the medical staffs
During the activation process, the servicing MEDLOG computer
software required. system wide, approximately $20.7 million of O&M
funds to "issue" medical WRM. This unprogrammed requirement was
resolved by HQ USAFE/AC with a $20.7 million "loan". During
deactivation of the contingency hospitals, MEDLOG computers accepted
materiel turn-ins and issued credit to recapture the $20.7 million for
reimbursement to HQ USAFE/AC. A leading after action recommendation
was to rewrite the MEDLOG software to allow contingency hospital
activation without the initial requirement for O&M funds.
USAFE ultimately provided 3,740 hospital beds through the use of
four contingency hospitals and expanded peacetime facilities. The
contingency hospital at RAF Little Rissington UK became the largest
medical center in the Air Force with 1,500 beds. The following USAFE
hospital beds were available to support DS/PF:
5
Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search