Military medicine
Encyclopedia
The term military medicine has a number of potential connotations. It may mean:
(1860-65), for example, about twice as many soldiers died of disease as were killed or mortally wounded in combat. The Franco-Prussian War
(1870-71) is considered to have been the first conflict in which this ratio was reversed, at least in the German coalition army which lost 3.47% of its average headcount to combat and only 1.82% to disease. In new world countries, such as Australia, the United States and Canada, military physicians and surgeons contributed significantly to the development of civilian health care.
U.S. Army medicine:
U.S. Navy medicine:
U.S. Air Force medicine:
Other regions
Australian military medicine
Historical military medicine
International Magazine for Military Medicine
NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine
- A medical specialty, specifically a branch of occupational medicine attending to the medical risks and needs (both preventive and interventional) of soldiers, sailors and other service members. This disparate arena has historically involved the prevention and treatment of infectious diseaseInfectious diseaseInfectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
s (especially tropical diseaseTropical diseaseTropical diseases are diseases that are prevalent in or unique to tropical and subtropical regions. The diseases are less prevalent in temperate climates, due in part to the occurrence of a cold season, which controls the insect population by forcing hibernation. Insects such as mosquitoes and...
s), and, in the 20th Century, the ergonomics and health effects of operating military-specific machines and equipment such as submarines, tanks, helicopters and airplanes. UnderseaDiving medicineDiving medicine, also called undersea and hyperbaric medicine , is the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of conditions caused by humans entering the undersea environment...
and aviation medicineAviation medicineAviation medicine, also called flight medicine or aerospace medicine, is a preventive or occupational medicine in which the patients/subjects are pilots, aircrews, or persons involved in spaceflight...
can be understood as subspecialties of military medicine, or in any case originated as such. (The American Board of Medical SpecialtiesAmerican Board of Medical SpecialtiesThe American Board of Medical Specialties is a non-profit physician-led umbrella organization for 24 of the 26 approved medical specialty boards in the United States...
does not, however, certify or recognize a specialty or subspecialty of “military medicine”.)
- The planning and practice of the surgical management of mass battlefield casualties and the logistical and administrative considerations of establishing and operating combat support hospitals. This involves military medical hierarchies, especially the organization of structured medical command and administrative systems that interact with and support deployed combat units. (See Battlefield medicineBattlefield medicineBattlefield medicine, also called field surgery and later combat casualty care, is the treatment of wounded soldiers in or near an area of combat. Civilian medicine has been greatly advanced by procedures that were first developed to treat the wounds inflicted during combat...
.)
- The administration and practice of health care for military service members and their dependents in non-deployed (peacetime) settings. This may (as in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) consist of a medical system paralleling all the medical specialties and sub-specialties that exist in the civilian sector. (See also Veterans Health AdministrationVeterans Health AdministrationThe Veterans Health Administration is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs led by the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health that implements the medical assistance program of the VA through the administration and operation of numerous VA outpatient clinics,...
which serves U.S. veterans.)
- Medical research and developmentResearch and developmentThe phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
specifically bearing upon problems of military medical interest. Historically, this encompasses all of the medical advances emerging from medical research efforts directed at addressing the problems encountered by deployed military forces (e.g., vaccines or drugs for soldiers, medical evacuation systems, drinking water chlorinationChlorinationChlorination is the process of adding the element chlorine to water as a method of water purification to make it fit for human consumption as drinking water...
, etc) many of which ultimately prove important beyond the purely military considerations that inspired them.
Historical significance
The significance of military medicine for combat strength can be judged based on the fact that in every single major war fought until the late 19th century disease claimed more soldier casualties than did enemy action. During the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
(1860-65), for example, about twice as many soldiers died of disease as were killed or mortally wounded in combat. The Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
(1870-71) is considered to have been the first conflict in which this ratio was reversed, at least in the German coalition army which lost 3.47% of its average headcount to combat and only 1.82% to disease. In new world countries, such as Australia, the United States and Canada, military physicians and surgeons contributed significantly to the development of civilian health care.
U.S. military medicine
- Military Health SystemMilitary Health SystemThe Military Health System is the enterprise within the United States Department of Defense responsible for providing health care to active duty and retired U.S. Military personnel and their dependents...
- TRICARETRICARETRICARE, formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services , is a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. TRICARE provides civilian health benefits for military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents,...
- Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesUniformed Services University of the Health SciencesThe Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences is a health science university run by the U.S. federal government. The primary mission of the school is to prepare graduates for service to the U.S. at home and abroad in the medical corps....
U.S. Army medicine:
- Medical Corps (United States Army)Medical Corps (United States Army)The Medical Corps of the U.S. Army is a staff corps of the U.S. Army Medical Department consisting of commissioned medical officers – physicians with either an MD or a DO degree, at least one year of post-graduate clinical training, and a state medical license.The MC traces its earliest origins...
- Mobile Army Surgical HospitalMobile Army Surgical HospitalThe Mobile Army Surgical Hospital refers to a United States Army medical unit serving as a fully functional hospital in a combat area of operations. The units were first established in August 1945, and were deployed during the Korean War and later conflicts. The U.S...
- Combat Support HospitalCombat support hospitalA Combat Support Hospital is a type of field hospital. The CSH is a United States military mobile hospital delivered to the Corps Support Area in standard military-owned Demountable Containers cargo containers and assembled by the staff into a tent hospital to treat wounded soldiers. A CSH also...
- 68W68W68W is the Military Occupational Specialty for the United States Army's healthcare specialist, also known as the combat medic...
, the "combat medic" - Borden InstituteBorden InstituteThe Borden Institute is a U.S. Army “Center of Excellence in Military Medical Research and Education” located on the grounds of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center , in Washington, DC....
- Textbook of Military MedicineTextbook of Military MedicineThe Textbook of Military Medicine is a series of volumes on military medicine published since 1989 by the Borden Institute, of the Office of The Surgeon General, Department of the Army. It constitutes a comprehensive, multi-volume treatise on the art and science of military medicine, as practiced...
(1989–2007), published by the U.S. Army
- Textbook of Military Medicine
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military MedicineHenry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military MedicineThe Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine is a private, not-for-profit organization established in 1983 and authorized by Congress to support medical research and education at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and throughout the military...
- Fort Sam HoustonFort Sam HoustonFort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
- Fort DetrickFort DetrickFort Detrick is a U.S. Army Medical Command installation located in Frederick, Maryland, USA. Historically, Fort Detrick was the center for the United States' biological weapons program ....
- United States Army Dental CommandUnited States Army Dental CommandThe U.S. Army Dental Command, known as DENCOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Medical Command that provides command and control of the Army's fixed-facility dental treatment facilities, preventive care, dental research, development and training institutions, dental treatment to...
- U.S. Army Medical Command
- Army Medical Department
- Forward Surgical TeamsForward Surgical TeamsUS Army Forward Surgical Teams are small, mobile surgical units fielded since the 1990s. FSTs are utilized in a variety of ways, and can be attached to a Forward Support Medical Company , Area Support Medical Company , Brigade Medical Company also known as C-Med or in some cases stand alone to...
- Battalion Aid StationsBattalion Aid StationsThe Battalion Aid Station is a medical section within a battalion's support company in the military of the United States, specifically, the Army and Marine Corps. As such, it is the forward-most medically-staffed treatment location. During peacetime, it is led by a Medical Operations Officer, a...
- Surgeon General of the United States Army
U.S. Navy medicine:
- Medical Corps (United States Navy)
- Hospital Corpsman
- Navy Dental CorpsNavy Dental CorpsThe Dental Corps of the United States Navy consists of naval officers who have a Doctorate in either Dental Surgery or Dental Medicine and who practice dentistry caring for sailors and marines. In overseas locations they also treat dependent family members...
- Navy Medical Service CorpsNavy Medical Service CorpsThe Medical Service Corps is a staff corps of the United States Navy, consisting of officers engaged in medical support duties. It includes healthcare scientists and researchers, comprising around 60% of its personnel, and healthcare administrators, comprising the remaining 40%...
- United States Navy Nurse CorpsUnited States Navy Nurse CorpsThe United States Navy Nurse Corps was officially established by Congress in 1908; however, unofficially, women had been working as nurses aboard Navy ships and in Navy hospitals for nearly 100 years.-Pre-1908:...
- Surgeon General of the United States NavySurgeon General of the United States NavyThe Surgeon General of the United States Navy is the senior-most medical corps officer in the United States Navy.- Establishment of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery :...
U.S. Air Force medicine:
- Surgeon General of the United States Air ForceSurgeon General of the United States Air ForceThe Surgeon General of the United States Air Force is the senior-most Medical Service officer in the U.S. Air Force. In recent times, this has been a Lieutenant General who serves as head of the United States Air Force Medical Service...
- Air Force Medical ServiceAir Force Medical ServiceThe United States Air Force Medical Service consists of the five distinct medical corps of the Air Force and enlisted medical technicians. The AFMS was created in 1949 after the newly independent Air Force’s first Surgeon General, Maj. General Malcolm C. Grow , convinced the United States Army...
- Aeromedical evacuation (United States)
British military medicine
- Surgeon-General (United Kingdom)Surgeon-General (United Kingdom)The Surgeon-General is the senior medical officer of the British Armed Forces; the post is held by the senior of the three individual service medical directors....
- Medical Assistant (Royal Navy)Medical Assistant (Royal Navy)The Medical Assistant is a Royal Navy medical rating in the United Kingdom. Medical Assistants serve on all types of ships in the surface and submarine fleet, or ashore in a sick bay, hospital, or other establishment...
- Royal Army Medical CorpsRoyal Army Medical CorpsThe Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
- Medical Support OfficerMedical Support OfficerThe term Medical Support Officer is the name given to Commissioned Officers within the British Army's Royal Army Medical Corps who are principally responsible for the leadership, command, control and management of the RAMC.-General background:...
- Combat Medical TechnicianCombat Medical TechnicianA Combat Medical Technician CMT is a soldier with a specialist military trade within the Royal Army Medical Corps of the British Army and the Royal Air Force.-Role:The fully trained Combat Medical Technician is capable of:...
- Medical Support Officer
- Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing CorpsQueen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing CorpsQueen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps is the nursing branch of the British Army and part of the Army Medical Services....
Serbian military medicine
- Military Medical Academy
Other regions
Australian military medicine
- Royal Australian Army Medical CorpsRoyal Australian Army Medical CorpsThe Royal Australian Army Medical Corps is the branch of the Australian Army responsible for providing medical care to Army personnel. The AAMC was formed in 1902 and has participated in every Australian Army operation...
- Royal Australian Army Nursing CorpsRoyal Australian Army Nursing CorpsThe Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps is a Corps of the Australian Army. It was formed in February 1951 from the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service. A Corps Badge was introduced in 1951 with the motto Pro Humanitate . It embraces the values of compassion and service to others, reflecting the...
- Australian Army Medical Units, World War IAustralian Army Medical Units, World War I-1st Division :* 1st Australian Field Ambulance * 2nd Australian Field Ambulance * 3rd Australian Field Ambulance-2nd Division :* 5th Australian Field Ambulance...
Israeli military medicine
- Medical Corps (Israel)
- Logistics, Medical, and the Centers Directorate
See also
- TriageTriageTriage or ) is the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. This rations patient treatment efficiently when resources are insufficient for all to be treated immediately. The term comes from the French verb trier, meaning to separate,...
- Field hospitalField hospitalA field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
- MEDEVACMEDEVACMedical evacuation, often termed Medevac or Medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using...
- CASEVACCASEVACCasualty evacuation, also known as CASEVAC or by the callsign Dustoff, is a military term for the emergency patient evacuation of casualties from a combat zone. Casevac can be done by both ground and air...
- Medical corpsMedical CorpsA medical corps is generally a military branch or officer corps responsible for medical care for serving military personnel. Such officers are typically military physicians...
- Combat medicCombat medicCombat medics are trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury...
- Flight medicFlight medicA Flight Medic is a generic term used to describe a Paramedic that functions in an aeromedical environment. Typically the Flight Medic will work with a registered nurse, physician, Respiratory Therapist, or another Paramedic. The Flight Paramedic is usually highly trained and has years of clinical...
- Ambulance#Military use
- Flight surgeonFlight surgeonA flight surgeon is a military medical officer assigned to duties in the clinical field variously known as aviation medicine, aerospace medicine, or flight medicine...
- Combat stress reactionCombat stress reactionCombat stress reaction , in the past commonly known as shell shock or battle fatigue, is a range of behaviours resulting from the stress of battle which decrease the combatant's fighting efficiency. The most common symptoms are fatigue, slower reaction times, indecision, disconnection from one's...
- Medical Service CorpsMedical Service CorpsMedical Service Corps may refer to:* Medical Service Corps -a branch of the Air Force Medical Service* Navy Medical Service Corps -a service of the United States Navy...
- Military nurse
- Military medical ethicsMilitary medical ethicsMilitary medical ethics is a specialized branch of medical ethics with implications for military ethics. Both are primarily fields of applied ethics, the study of moral values and judgments as they apply to the specific contexts of medicine and military affairs, respectively...
- Military psychiatristMilitary psychiatristA military psychiatrist is a psychiatrist — whether uniformed officer or civilian consultant — specializing in the treatment of military personnel and military family members suffering from mental disorders that occur within the statistical norm for any population, as well as those disorders...
/Military psychiatryMilitary psychiatryMilitary psychiatry covers special aspects of psychiatry and mental disorders within the military context. The aim of military psychiatry is to keep as many serving personnel as possible fit for duty and to treat those disabled by psychiatric conditions.... - History of Military Nutrition
External links
U.S. military medicine- Military Medicine related links from USAF Air University
- Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS)
- Military Medicine Through Time. Life and Death in the War Zone | NOVANOVA (TV series)Nova is a popular science television series from the U.S. produced by WGBH Boston. It can be seen on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States, and in more than 100 other countries...
| PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia.... - The Borden Institute Homepage
- Military Medicine Documents at USU Archive
- U.S. Army Preventive Medicine news archive from the 7th Infantry Division (Light) Panorama weekly newspaper 1988.
- Virtual Naval Hospital - a digital library of military medicine and humanitarian medicine
Australian military medicine
Historical military medicine
- "Medicine." The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia.
International Magazine for Military Medicine
- MCIF MEDICAL CORPS INTERNATIONAL FORUM International Magazine for Military Medicine
NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine