Hospital Ward

Patients not requiring the Intensive Care Unit can be placed on the Ward for continuing care and observation.

Each bed is equipped with a reading light, call button, and oxygen breathing equipment (OBE) should a fire create the need for evacuation through smoke-filled spaces.

As you can see, there are upper and lower bunks. The lower bunks are more convenient, particularly if the patient has any serious injury.

Although there are some privacy curtains to wall off some of the spaces, this is essentially one large ward. If privacy or isolation is needed, two Isolation Rooms are available, each able to accommodate several patients.

For overflow of casualties, the Marine Berthing spaces are immediately beyond the Ward. This space becomes available after the Marines leave the ship. Presumably, if there were so many casualties that the Hospital Ward capacity were exceeded, space would be available in the Marine Berthing area.

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
2300 E Street NW
Washington, D.C
20372-5300

Operational Medicine
 Health Care in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMED P-5139
  January 1, 2001