Analysis of Hospitalization Length of Stay Within a Multi-Echelon System of Care During Combat Operations

摘要

Hospitalization records were reviewed for Marine Corps casualties sustained during the Vietnam War, and lengths of stay at each level of care were calculated for over 86,000 patients. Wounded in action (WIA) casualties had a total mean length of stay of 69.9 days compared to 21.2 days for disease and non-battle injury (DNBI) admissions. The median lengths of stay were 38 days for WIA and 10 days for DNBI casualties. While approximately 45% of WIA patients completed treatment within 30 days, almost 20% of those who were evacuated to Echelon V facilities stayed over six months. Approximately 40% of DNBI patients completed treatment within a week. Compared to their WIA counterparts, DNBI casualties showed longer lengths of stay at Echelons II and III and were less than half as likely to be sent to Echelon IV or Echelon V facilities.