Analysis on the stationed system for detached medical officer in the Song Dynasty

Abstract

The stationed system for detached medical officer, designated by the Royal Hanlin Department, was an important management system in the Song Dynasty for medical aid and epidemic prevention. The selection of the officers was based on the test results of the candidates. The dispatch of such medical officers was considered comprehensively on the local conditions, with priority given to those provinces and counties in shortage of such officers, and sent them in order based on the duration of their working time.The primary responsibility of the stationed medical officers was to provide medical services to locally stationed troops, at the same time also involved in treating and saving people as epidemics occurred in local places. The term of their service was two years. The system is a kind of relatively mature medical management practices, which could improve the level of local army medical services and control the occurrence and spread of epidemics effectively.