sizable number of ground forces.
Moderately
sophisticated care is provided, along with resuscitative
medical and surgical care, and selected specialty care.
Fleet hospitals are substantially self-supporting and
relocatable; however, relocatability varies with the
hospital size.
Mission
A fleet hospitals mission depends on its type and
the operation in which it will be used. The type is
determined by bed size and echelon of care. Fleet
hospitals are designed and staffed to provide Echelon
III or Echelon IV levels of patient care.
Designation
Fleet hospitals designated as active duty facilities
will be manned by active duty personnel, with a
command staff assigned from one particular naval
hospital using the Medical Augmentation Program
(MAP). Naval Reserve fleet hospitals will be staffed
by preassigned Naval Reserve personnel.
After
activation, fleet hospitals are deployed to an
operational theater where command and control pass
to an operational commander.
Organization
The internal organization of the fleet hospital is
similar to a shore-based MTF.
It consists of the
command staff (commanding officer, executive
officer, command master chief, and special assistants)
and five directorates (nursing service, medical
services, surgical service, ancillary service, and
administrative service).
Security and Safety
A deployed fleet hospital must have a security plan
that addresses security precautions, threat response,
and disaster recovery. The security program covers
physical, informational, and classified material
aspects normally included in the area of operation
(AO) security plan.
Physical security for fleet
hospitals is both internal and external.
Fleet hospitals will follow the same OPNAV safety
program as other operational units.
Hospital
commanders establish a safety program and an internal
organization to address safety issues and appoint a
safety officer.
Logistics
Logistics for a fleet hospital include medical
supplies, equipment, and services.
Logistical
requirements can range from acquiring raw material to
delivering medical supplies to a field hospital, or
returning medical equipment to a theater after a patient
evacuation. Tasks of fleet hospital logistics include
contracting, host-nation support, equipment manage-
ment, facilities management, transportation, graves
registration, and postal service. All of the fleet hospital
supply department operations are conducted in
accordance with NAVSUP P-485.
Personnel
Staffing for active duty fleet hospitals comes from
several CONUS MTFs, while designated reserve units
staff a particular reserve fleet hospital. Each fleet
hospital has its own active manning document
(AMD). Personnel are normally issued TAD orders for
less than 180 days. If the operation exceeds 179 days,
PCS orders may be issued. Replacements are handled
the same way as in any fixed MTF.
Training
BUMED is responsible for monitoring the training
of all authorized personnel assigned to fleet hospital
mobilization billets.
COMNAVSURFRESFOR is
responsible for overseeing the training of Naval
Reserve personnel assigned to staff Naval Reserve
fleet hospitals.
COMMAND MEDICAL READINESS
PLAN
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
Recall the
policies and procedures for the drafting of a
command medical readiness plan, and recall
mobile medical personnel augmentation
procedures.
As you advance in the Hospital Corps, you may be
involved in assisting in the development of a command
readiness plan. This is the process by which wartime
medical requirements are filled by active duty and
reserve personnel to bring units to their full or partial
wartime allowance.
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