title: Utilization of surgical resources during the USNS COMFORT humanitarian mission to the Americas, June to October 2007.
abstract: In 2007, the United States Navy Ship (USNS) COMFORT (T-AH 20), a full-capability medical treatment facility, departed for Partnership for the Americas, her first large-scale humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) mission. Analysis of operational data describes surgical resource utilization. Lessons from previous military humanitarian assistance operations were helpful when placed in the cultural context of Latin America. Premission planning decisions that included time in each port and funding determined the services that were offered to host nations. Surgical, dental, immunizations, preventive medicine, and biomedical repair services had lasting impacts. COMFORT and similar hospital ships are a superior platform to combatant vessels in providing comprehensive surgical care. Medical planning is heavily dependent upon statistics. Collection of additional clinical data on subsequent HCA missions could aid future planning decisions regarding manning, equipment, supplies, and objectives.
authors.affiliation: Department of the Navy, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED), 2300 E. Street NW, Washington, DC 20372, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hartgerink
authors.forename: Louisa E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Timothy F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Donahue
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagliara
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D017691:Caribbean Region; D002489:Central America; D013502:General Surgery / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006772:Hospitals, Military / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008493:Medical Missions; D009326:Naval Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012767:Ships; D013020:South America; D014481:United States