The Operational Realities and Lessons Learned in Setting up a Functional Medical Unit, Self-Contained Transportable Operating Room to Support a Fixed Facility

Abstract

Routine surgical care at Cutler Army Community Hospital (CACH), Fort Devens, Massachusetts was interrupted for almost 2 months while the operating room floors of the hospital were renovated. Surgical capabilities were maintained utilizing the field resources of the 46th Combat Support Hospital (CSH). This initiative required the exceedingly close coordination and combined efforts of both medical commands superimposed on a matrix of finite installation support and community acceptance, fostered by a proactive, highly visible public relations program. The joint venture was an unequivocal success in terms of maintaining the continuity of operations, demonstrating the real-life capabilities of surgical field equipment, and providing invaluable first-hand "do's and don'ts" training experience to the soldiers involved in the project. A "lessons learned perspective" of the planning and implementation phases is presented that provides beneficial real-life reference information and resource data.