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File: 110196_aacbg_05.txt
Page: 05
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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:
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