This page has not been translated into 简体中文. Visit the 简体中文 page for resources in that language.
2.2. Space and Systems Assistance
Federal medical stations (FMS) are also available upon request from the SNS.84 These rapidly deployable caches contain beds, supplies, and medicines which can quickly transform any building into a temporary medical shelter during an emergency. Each FMS comes with a three-day supply of medical and pharmaceutical resources to sustain from 50 to 250 stable primary or chronic care patients who require medical and nursing services. FMS facilities generally are staffed by local or regional personnel or from the USPHS. Potential roles for an FMS include the following:
Provide temporary holding and care for patients to decompress a local hospital (increase beds available for patients with disaster-related trauma or illness)
Receive patients from nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities forced to evacuate due to the disaster
Provide low acuity care for patients with chronic illnesses whose access to care is impeded due to the disaster
Significant preparation is needed to employ FMSs in support of SLTT emergency plans, as a FMS must be established in a structurally intact, accessible building with adequate hygiene facilities and functioning utilities (hot and cold potable water, electricity, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and internet accessibility or capability). A 250-bed FMS requires roughly 40,000 ft2 of open space, while a 50-bed FMS requires about 15,000 ft2. Logistical services must be in place before an FMS can be operational, such as a 10-12 person set up team, contracted support for patient feeding, laundry, ice, medical oxygen, and biomedical waste disposal. Once a request for an FMS has been approved, the cache of equipment and supplies will be delivered in 24-48 hours.
The federal government also will assist with integrating health services with other non-medical disciplines such as emergency management and law enforcement.
Figure 67: Federal Medical Station set up at a municipal sports complex in Manatí, Puerto Rico
