Multistage deployment of the Army theater hospital

Abstract

We will never know the operational battle space of the future, so medical assets need to be flexible and agile to conform to a variety of environments and threats. We utilize a multistage optimization model and data from past contingency operations to analyze potential configurations of a robust theater-deployable hospital. The current Army theater-deployable hospital has 248 beds, and our analysis shows it is over-capacitated for the current brigade-centric force structure. Based on our analysis, the optimal role-3 medical treatment facility is between 44 beds and 124 beds, with smaller wards, and the ability to combine hospitals to create larger hospitals. The smaller role-3 medical treatment facility better suits the tactical and operational employment of medical assets and supports the strategic plans for regionally aligned forces.