CMD RPT ODS 17 MAR 91 AMD CDRS SUMMARY 17 MAR 91

File: 980811_sep96_decls6_0015.txt
Page: 0015
Total Pages: 17
Subject = CMD RPT ODS   17 MAR 91 AMD CDRS SUMMARY   17 MAR 91

Box ID = BX003208

Folder Title = 251ST EVAC HOSP-ANNEX E ODS

File Cabinet = Week-38

Parent Organization = HSC






















             Saudis are oriented towards error prevention. Their first
             concern is to make no mistakes, create no short-cuts, in effect
             to work with negative attention to detail. When I congratulated
             a senior Saudi officer on the magnitude of the job we had done
             and how it would "look good" -For him, he replied, "It can only
             look bad -For me." He meant that he would not be congratulated on
             a job well done, he would only be criticized for details he had
             missed or incorrectly handled.

                 Socially of course, the Saudi approach to females and
             to working with them was a problem area peculiar to this part of
             the world. Our females were housed in a fenced, guarded
             compound.  Mixing of the sexes in sports and social settings was
             not permitted at first. As the mission neared its completion,
             they were encouraged to relax some of these restrictions. None
             the less, the lot of our females was especially difficult during
             their stay at KKMC.

                 Fourth, the medical regulating effort seemed only marginally
             effective in this operation. Clinical procedures were never
             effectively standardized especially as regards the 602 tag.
             Accordingly large numbers of patients were "evaced from Evac to
             Evac" -for "further evaluation" as front line hospitals failed to
             spec:ify "out of theater" on tags. The mercifully light US
             casualty load caused the Air Force to handle strategic evacuation
             on an as-needed basis. This tended to down grade or even to
             nullify the function of the MASF and ASF at MEDBASE America and
             to extend patient length of stay while they waited +or
             evacuation. Many US, for various reasons, escaped the medical
             regulating system altogether and just arrived.

                 Fifth, the EPW patient project began in understandable
             confusion due to the rapid influx and large numbers of EPWS.
             However US and Saudi authorities at the 251st rapidly arranged
             an efficient system for admitting EPW patients to the ii4th and
             350th Evacuation Hospitals, utilizing a variable "KKMC EPW evac
             policy", and periodically pulling the longer term patients to the
             251st for further care, transfer to Saudi officials, and as
             necessary evacuation through Saudi channels. 168 EPWs were so
             handled in the 251st.

                                     OPERATIONAL SUMMARY

                  On 16 January 1991, the 251st Evacuation Hospital had a
             total of 55 patients, one of which was an American. From 0001
             hours, 17 January 1991 to 2400 hours 14 March 1991, this hospital
             admitted 1156 patients. 0+ these, 334 were Americans of which 8
             represented battle injuries. 602 were coalition military, 62
             were civilian and 168 Iraqi EPW'S. Our average daily inpatient
             census was 91 and we peaked at 204. Of American admissions, 2
             died, I from battle wounds, 216 were evacuated and 116 were
             returned to duty. There were 20 total deaths, and 2 of these
             died from battle wounds. 270 surgical procedures were performed.
Unit = OTSG        
Parent = HSC