ATP-4-90 Brigade Support Battalion Download
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18 June 2020 ATP 4-90 8-1 Chapter 8 Medical Support Medical support to maneuver forces is provided by both organic medical assets and echelons above brigade assets providing direct or general support to the BCT. The focus of the medical effort at the BCT-level and below is to rapidly locate, acquire, treat, stabilize, and evacuate patients. The brigade support medical company provides Role 1 and Role 2 medical support to all BCT units operating in the brigade AO. The company also provides Roles 1 and 2 medical support on a coordinated and synchronized area basis to units operating in or traversing through its AO that do not have organic medical assets. This chapter provides an overview of medical support at the BCT level and describes the role, organization, employment, and operations of the BSMC as well as other medical units that a BCT may interact with on the battlefield. BCT MEDICAL SUPPORT IN DECISIVE ACTION Medical support includes all services performed, provided, or arranged to promote, improve, conserve, or restore the mental or physical wellbeing of personnel, which include preventive and curative health measures, evacuation of wounded, injured, or sick; selection of the medically fit and disposition of the medically unfit; blood management; medical supply, equipment, and maintenance thereof; combat and operational stress control; medical, dental, veterinary, laboratory, optometry, nutrition therapy, and medical intelligence services. ROLE 1 MEDICAL CARE Role 1 is the first medical care a Soldier receives. Role 1 care includes immediate lifesaving measures, disease and non-battle injury prevention, combat and operational stress prevention measures, patient location and collection, medical evacuation from supported units to a supporting medical treatment facility, and treatment by designated combat medics or treatment squads. Medical personnel place emphasis on measures (such as maintaining the airway, stopping bleeding, preventing shock, protecting wounds, and immobilizing fractures) necessary to stabilize or allow for the evacuation of the patient to the next role of care. Role 1 also provides routine medical treatment for minor injuries and illnesses that allow a Soldier to return to duty. Combat medics, physicians, physician assistants, or the medical specialists in the battalion aid station provide Role 1 medical treatment. ROLE 2 MEDICAL CARE The Role 2 medical treatment facility provides a greater capability and capacity to resuscitate trauma patients than is available at a Role 1 medical treatment facility. The mission of the patient holding squad is to provide nursing care for patients awaiting evacuation or for patients who are expected to return to duty within 72 hours. Patients who are non-transportable due to their medical condition may require resuscitative surgical care from a forward resuscitative and surgical team collocated with a medical company. Role 2 healthcare provides medical evacuation from Role 1 medical treatment facilities and provides Role 1 area support medical treatment on limited basis for units without organic Role 1 resources. It is imperative that supported units coordinate and synchronize their requirements, locations, and other information so the BSMC can appropriately plan, provide, and execute medical support. BSMC and area support medical companies provide Role 2 medical care. The BSMC is organized to provide C2, establish and conduct operations, maintain, supply, and provide evacuation to the medical treatment facility from Role 1 elements and to determine the disposition of patients back to their unit or to