Preparation for Desert Storm: expansion of an overseas Air Force hospital pharmacy to handle casualties.
The planning and execution for contingency pharmacy services in support of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in an overseas Air Force Medical Center are described. These operations presented the staff with far different challenges than the contingency support plan that had been in place for several years. That plan focused medical operations based on armed conflict in Central Europe. With conflict now imminent in the Persian Gulf, over 8 hours flying time away from our facility, our priorities and mission changed tremendously. This conflict demanded prompt action by the Department of Pharmacy to ensure comprehensive services in support of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm without interruption of services to the local military community. Pharmacy planning focused on four basic areas: (1) supply requirements, (2) contingency staffing requirements, (3) expansion of inpatient pharmacy services, and (4) modifications to outpatient pharmacy services. A modified contingency plan assured professional pharmaceutical services for over 3,000 patients suffering injuries in the 12 months American forces were deployed to the Persian Gulf.
Diaz
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RA
Department of Pharmacy, 7100 Combat Support Wing Medical Center, Wiesbaden, Germany, APO AE 09220.
Datena
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D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare