The purpose of the National Disaster Medical System

A nationwide medical response system that supplements state and local emergency resources during disasters or major emergencies. NDMS also provides backup medical support to the military / VA medical care systems during an overseas conventional conflict. Circumstances for which NDMS may be activated include 1) a military contingency or overseas conventional armed conflict involving US forces, 2) a presidential declaration of a disaster, 3) a request for major medical assistance.

Major Components of NDMS include

  1. Medical Response

    2. The lead responsiblity of Health and Human Services (HHS), medical response includes an assessment of health & medical needs, provides medical care personnel including health / medical equipment and supplies by deployment of Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT). Other services include victim identification / mortuary services utilizing Disaster Mortuary teams (DMORT)
  2. Patient Evacuation

    3. The lead responsiblity of the Department of Defense (DOD) which utilizes all types of transportation and primarily relies on aeromedical evacuation to accomplish this task. Other functions during the medical evacuation include patient reporting, regulating and movement from staging areas or casualty clearing points utilizing assets of the US Air Force and Civil Reserve Air Fleed (CRAF).
  3. Definative Medical Care

    4. By concentrating on major metropolitan areas which have available air access, an NDMS Federal Coordinating Center (FCC), hospital support and patient reception and distribution capabilities, patients are provided definative medical care. Developed from the Civilian Military Contingency Hospital System (CMCHS), NDMS exists as a key role in coordinating a nationwide medical mutual aid network utilizing both public and private sector assets.