The Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit at Kandahar Airfield 2005–2010

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 rot...

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Published inCanadian Journal of Surgery Vol. 54; no. 6; pp. S124 - S129
Main Authors Brisebois, Col Ronald, MD, Hennecke, Maj Peter, BScN, Kao, Capt (N) Raymond, MD, McAlister, Maj Vivian, MB, Po, LCol Joseph, BMed Sci, MD, Stiegelmar, LCol Rob, MD, Tien, Col Homer, OMM CD, MD, MSc, for the Canadian Forces Health Services Research Consortium
Format Journal Article
LanguageFrench
English
Published Canada CMA Impact, Inc 01.12.2011
Canadian Medical Association
Subjects
Afghan Campaign 2001
Afghanistan
Canada
Emergency Medical Services - organization & administration
Emergency preparedness
Government Agencies
Health care delivery
Health services
Hospitals, Military - organization & administration
Humans
Mass Casualty Incidents
Military deployment
Military Medicine - education
Military Personnel - education
Patient Safety
Quality Improvement
Surgery
Training
Transportation of Patients
War Surgery
Canada
Afghanistan
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Summary: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.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:0008-428X
1488-2310
DOI:10.1503/cjs.024811