Patient Flow of Marine Disease and Non-Battle Injury Conditions within a Multi-Echelon System of Care

摘要

Hospitalization data were extracted for Marines who incurred disease and non-battle injuries in Vietnam from 1965 through 1969, and the echelon flow of treatment care for different types of injuries was examined. The inter- echelon movement of each patient who was hospitalized at an Echelon II or III facility was tracked until the treatment was completed or until the patient was moved to a continental U.S. facility. Results showed that approximately three-fourths of the admissions to Echelon II or III facilities had no further treatment recorded at a higher echelon of care. Less than one-fifth of the patients required treatment at an Echelon IV facility or Echelon V facility.