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Chapter 8 - Leading the Mission
- from Section 3 - Operational Considerations
- Edited by Elhanan Bar-On, Kobi Peleg, Yitshak Kreiss
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- Book:
- Field Hospitals
- Published online:
- 09 January 2020
- Print publication:
- 09 January 2020, pp 58-67
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- Chapter
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Summary
Effective administration of healthcare in an emergency setting, especially in field-hospital deployment where order must be established, needs assessed and limited resources allocated effectively, is considerably more complex than the regular patient–doctor interactions characteristic of routine times. Due to the complexity and uncertainty typical of such an environment, leadership is required not only by the field hospital staff but also by the affected public, which seeks leadership in those who are perceived to be the center of clinical service delivery.
This type of leadership demands organized command and control and practice of more than just basic leadership processes, and therefore requires, alongside the mission leader, a structured management and task-orientated chain of command.
For the hospital to operate effectively and independently, it is necessary to also define the organizational structure. The organizational structure discussed in this chapter is a model tested over the past three decades by the IDF Medical Corps hospital in numerous missions. This structure is generally similar to the basic structure of a small- to medium-scale hospital in routine times. At the same time, it allows more focused and simple managing processes required in non-routine scenarios such as emergencies or disasters.
Chapter 11 - Auxiliary Medical Services in a Field Hospital
- from Section 3 - Operational Considerations
- Edited by Elhanan Bar-On, Kobi Peleg, Yitshak Kreiss
-
- Book:
- Field Hospitals
- Published online:
- 09 January 2020
- Print publication:
- 09 January 2020, pp 88-100
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- Chapter
- Export citation
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Summary
Field hospitals are a vital element in providing as many medical services as possible to a stricken population in times of disaster. Setting up a field hospital with advanced auxiliary medical services is possible as long as there is comprehensive and careful planning, training, and preparation done ahead of time. The main objective of the AMS department is to organize and assist in establishing the field hospital, ensure its smooth and efficient operation throughout the stay, and, at the close of a mission to disassemble the equipment for its return journey and then ensure it is in optimum working order for the next call up. The department is responsible for maintaining all medical devices in perfect working order with the focus being on safety compliance and patient welfare. The four core services provided by the department cover medical engineering, medical equipment and pharmacy, diagnostic imaging, and the clinical laboratory. All these services operate according to a predetermined workflow and clear working guidelines. In keeping with the goals of the humanitarian mission, the medical engineering service will handle the acquisition and maintenance of equipment capable of functioning in an electricity free environment. They will verify that all devices are robust and capable of operating under extreme weather conditions and comply with any specifications mandated by the different countries. The pharmacy service plays a vital role in ensuring medicine and its accompanying information is handled efficiently and safely. Data is accrued over the span of a mission to assist with ever more accurate future planning. The diagnostic imaging service must be able to provide both investigative and diagnostic examinations. This service is agile and can be provided in an imaging department tent, a dedicated container unit or bedside for patients who are not to be moved. The clinical laboratory service performs a full array of tests that facilitate in diagnosis and treatment of the patient. The services provided by the laboratory include biochemistry, hematology, and microbiology. The laboratory diagnoses the pathogens in infectious diseases and identifies the type of bacteria and its susceptibility to various antibiotics.