Health Care: Readiness of U.S. Contingency Hospital Systems to Treat War Casualties
Abstract
At the request of the Chairman, and Investigations, Subcommittee on Oversight House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, GAO examined the adequacy of plans by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and other organizations to care for wartime casualties returning to the United States. GAO identified several issues that will likely limit the capability of the Departments and the National Disaster Medical System to handle large numbers of casualties:-- DOD does not know enough about the qualifications or readiness of medical reservists.-- The number of beds expected to be available in DOD, VA, and NDMS hospitals is overstated.-- DOD does not have adequate plans to develop additional specialty care, such as burn treatment.-- Some communities do not have adequate plans to receive and transport casualties.-- Systems to track casualties are inadequate.-- VA medical centers have not planned for the continued care of beneficiaries displaced from those centers. GAO has discussed these issues with officials from both Departments, who stated that actions will be taken to address them.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 25, 1992
- Accession Number
- AD1151992
Entities
People
- David P. Baine
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office