title: Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief aboard the USNS Mercy (TAH-19).
abstract: The USNS Mercy, one of the two hospital ships in the United States Navy, has provided disaster relief and humanitarian assistance for multiple natural disasters around the world. As a self-sustaining 1000-bed hospital, the USNS Mercy provides a full complement of surgical and medical capabilities to care for the sick and injured in a mobile platform environment. This article describes the recent missions of the USNS Mercy, highlighting the capabilities and humanitarian mission goals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Naval Medical Center, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, #112, San Diego, CA 92134-1112, USA. matthew.provencher@med.navy.mil
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Provencher
authors.forename: Trent D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Douglas
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D006801:Humans; D008952:Mobile Health Units; D009326:Naval Medicine; D009873:Operating Rooms; D012066:Relief Work; D012767:Ships / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014481:United States