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File: 110196_aacbg_05.txtpersonnel. 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
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