All Branch Topic (ABT) Ebola military medical intervention

[Oo Cipher oO]

Here is an article on the military medical intervention from npr and it got me thinking http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandso...-military-turn-the-tide-in-the-ebola-outbreak

Basically we are setting up a 25 bed clinic but not supplying any medical staff. Looking at the crisis now unfolding this does not seem likely to be much to stem the tide of ebola. If the US did decide to send medical staff who would they send? I assume its not just gonna be the ID specialists. Do we have many docs or others to spare on the fly with the drawdown and our continued military operations? If the US decided to get more invoked in the ebola outbreak wouldn't one of the 1000 bed Navy hospital ships be better suited to helping the greatest number of people?

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[alpinism]

Here's the thing, its no secret what patients with Ebola need to have the best chance of survival. Good supportive care and ICU level monitoring. For the most part, its not complex experimental drugs or medical specialists. Dr. Farmer wrote a good article on the subject a few days ago:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...d6dafc-2fb4-11e4-9b98-848790384093_story.html

A bunch of GMOs and nurses/medics could do wonders if given the right supplies and training. Obviously a few Intensivists and ID docs would also be needed for supervision but general medical staff is all you need for the most part. The US military has plenty of medical personnel available that could help, whether they choose to send them is a whole other matter. Its not like they're already actively involved in day to day counter terrorism operations or needed elsewhere. I'd agree that a hospital ship would be a much better idea than a small 25 bed clinic for healthcare workers.

 

[fez68w]

Our brigade was selected (won't say which, but it's shutting down next year) got selected by the powers above to provide support in the Ebola outbreak. Now, Fort Riley is an infantry post. So let's narrow this down... they won't send infantry over there and definitely not armory...so that leaves medics (ME!). Now, I don't know if it will be soldiers will be picked, a unit, battalion or brigade, but it's on paper.

The clinic I work at is screening soldiers for Ebola (coming from deployment) and leaders were advised on the spread of Ebola and its dangers. Much of our mission focuses on the Horn of Africa (and a few other places).

The bottom line is this: who is paying the bill to send the soldiers? Because the Dept. of State is not ponying up money.Hell, I was supposed to deploy with another soldier, and it didn't happen. The mission kept being cancelled (no funding). We'll see what happens when the fiscal year begins though....


Update: Dept. of Defense if requesting money for this mission. So this is official....

 

[Perrotfish]

Well that escalated quickly. We will be sending 3000 active duty personnel to fight Ebola in Liberia.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...db3da0-3d32-11e4-b0ea-8141703bbf6f_story.html

 

[Oo Cipher oO]

Well that escalated quickly. We will be sending 3000 active duty personnel to fight Ebola in Liberia.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...db3da0-3d32-11e4-b0ea-8141703bbf6f_story.html

Anyone know if all branches or just one, like the Army, being tasked with providing the personnel?

 

[fez68w]

On mobile currently, but I believe the Health Corps is going (NHSC)

I don't know about the other branches.

 

[backrow]

I don't about the other branches.

The NHSC is not considered a branch of the military, but I'm pretty sure that's not what you meant anyway.

I'm assuming you mean beyond the Army you don't know of other branches going, but in addition the NHSC is going??

 

[fez68w]

The NHSC is not considered a branch of the military, but I'm pretty sure that's not what you meant anyway.

I'm assuming you mean beyond the Army you don't know of other branches going, but in addition the NHSC is going??

So far, only the Army and NHSC have been mentioned. Yes, the NHSC is not a military branch, but it is considered a uniformed service.

The good news: Army personnel will not be involved in patient contact, phew! I'm a low E-3 medic, I do not have the proper training (nor pay) to handle Ebola patients.
The bad news: The units have not been publicly announced.... it's a waiting game now... just wait 'til fiscal year begins...

 

[backrow]

Yes, the NHSC is not a military branch, but it is considered a uniformed service.

Is it part of the Commisioned Corps of the Public Health Service? I'm not too familiar with that program, but what I can find doesn't mention it as part of the USPHS.

For those wondering there are 7 Uniformed Services: USN, USMC, USA, USAF, USCG, NOAA, and USPHS.

 

[Promethean]

The good news: Army personnel will not be involved in patient contact, phew! I'm a low E-3 medic, I do not have the proper training (nor pay) to handle Ebola patients.

Would made for a heck of a personal statement though:

"My commitment to medicine was tested when I was called to duty providing care to patients affected by the recent Ebola outbreak..." Instant acceptance, name your school.