NATO Multinational Medical Operations and the Requirement for Interoperability and Data Exchange
Abstract
As we discuss interoperability and force protection, it is important to realize that NATO military forces did not develop the ability to successfully operate together simply through long association, but through a structured and focused process of agreeing on and implementing common standards in operations, logistics, materiel development, and administration. For the expansion of multinational medical operations, a sine qua non which has been well demonstrated is that of standardization. I know of no one who would dispute that. There are many international agencies and organizations working in the realm of technical and communications standards, and some working in the area of clinical standards, but few are working in the arena of operational standards. NATO is one exception--All NATO operational doctrine is founded on the principal of interoperability. This concept requires that national forces or systems are able to operate together in order to achieve a task or mission. However, interoperability does not necessarily mean commonality of systems or equipment. The key is compatibility and compliance with industry equipment and software standards. Therefore, I want to discuss the basics of the NATO Standardisation Process and how it works, with specific reference to current medical standards and Information Exchange Requirements. Areas I will cover include: What Standardisation is; Why it is needed; How we accomplish it; What is covered by medical standardization; and What are Information Exchange Requirements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA476386
Entities
People
- David M. Lam
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research and Development Command