title: The Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit at Kandahar Airfield 2005-2010.
abstract: In late 2005, Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) was tasked with the command of the NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit (R3MMU) on Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan. Preparations drew on past experience and planning. Eight complete hospital contingents were trained and deployed in rotation. Near-reality simulation training was undertaken with the combat brigade, including complete deployment of the field hospital in the exercise area. Standard operating procedures (SOP) were developed and applied by each rotation so successfully that they were adopted by the new command in late 2009. The Canadian period at R3MMU had the highest survival rate ever recorded for victims of war. Lessons learned are being applied among victims of the conflict and trauma. The experience of the R3MMU was used to successfully deploy a hospital as part of the earthquake relief effort in Haiti in 2010.The training protocols and SOP are being applied to disaster preparedness in Canadian civilian hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Forces Health Services.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brisebois
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hennecke
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: McAlister
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Po
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stiegelmar
authors.forename: Homer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tien
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000346:Afghanistan; D002170:Canada; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006077:Government Agencies; D006772:Hospitals, Military / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000193:education; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000193:education; D061214:Patient Safety; D058996:Quality Improvement; D014187:Transportation of Patients
references.citation: Am J Surg. 2004 May;187(5):652-4
references.pmid: 15135685
references.citation: Mil Med. 2011 Jan;176(1):115-8
references.pmid: 21305972
references.citation: J Am Coll Surg. 2008 Aug;207(2):174-8
references.pmid: 18656043
references.citation: J Trauma. 2010 May;68(5):1253-6
references.pmid: 20453775
references.citation: Neurosurg Focus. 2010 May;28(5):E7
references.pmid: 20568947
references.citation: J R Army Med Corps. 2010 Jun;156(2):106-9
references.pmid: 20648949
references.citation: Can J Surg. 2011 Feb;54(1):7-8
references.pmid: 21251426
references.citation: Can J Surg. 2011 Dec;54(6):S112-7
references.pmid: 22099323
references.citation: J Trauma. 2011 Nov;71(5 Suppl 1):S397-400
references.pmid: 22071994