text: Army Health System Overview
  ROLE 3
  1-45. At Role 3, the patient is treated in an MTF staffed and equipped to provide care to all categories of
  patients, to include resuscitation, initial wound surgery, damage control surgery, and postoperative treatment.
  This role of care expands the support provided at Role 2. Patients who are unable to tolerate and survive
  movement over long distances receive surgical care in a hospital as close to the supported unit as the tactical
  situation allows. This role includes provisions for—
  * Coordination of patient evacuation through medical regulating.
  * Providing care for all categories of patients in an MTF with the proper staff and equipment.
  * Providing support on an area basis to units without organic medical assets.
  1-46. Role 3 AHS assets are located in the—
  * Combat support hospital.
  * Hospital Center.
  ROLE 4
  1-47. Role 4 medical care is found in CONUS-based hospitals and other safe havens (to include robust
  overseas MTFs). If mobilization requires expansion of military hospital capacities, then the Department of
  Veterans Affairs and civilian hospital beds in the National Disaster Medical System are added to meet the
  increased demands created by the evacuation of patients from the operational area. The support-based
  hospitals represent the most definitive medical care available within the AHS.
  ELIGIBILITY OF CARE DETERMINATION
  1-48. During unified land operations, one of the most pressing questions is who is eligible for care in a United
  States Army-established MTF and the extent of care authorized. Numerous categories of personnel seek care
  in U.S. facilities that are located in austere areas where the host-nation civilian medical infrastructure is not
  sufficient to provide adequate care. A determination of eligibility and whether reimbursement for services
  is required is made at the highest level possible and in consultation with the supporting staff judge advocate.
  Additionally, Department of State and other military staff sections (such as the assistant chief of staff, CA)
  may also need to be involved in the determination process. Each operation is unique and the authorization
  for care is based on the appropriate U.S. and international law and policies. Other factors impacting on the
  determination of eligibility are command guidance, practical humanitarian and medical ethics considerations,
  availability of U.S. medical assets (in relationship to the threat faced by the force), and the potential training
  opportunities for medical forces. The sample format provided in Table 1-2 on page 1-15 is just one approach
  to delineate and disseminate this information to MTF personnel and may not be all-inclusive based on specific
  scenarios.
  Note. The examples for the authority to provide treatment are only illustrative in nature and should
  not be used as the basis for providing or denying medical care.
  KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH CARE CAPABILITIES
  1-49. The MTF staff must be familiar with the medical care available in the operational area from other
  sources. These sources could include unified action partners such as multinational force military (tactical
  and strategic), nongovernmental organizations or intergovernmental organizations (such as the United
  Nations), and local civilian resources. When appropriate, and by knowing the level and types of care
  available, the MTF staff can plan for the continued care of the patient after initial stabilization is provided in
  the United States Army MTF and the patient can be transferred to another facility for continued care.
  DISSEMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CARE INFORMATION
  1-50. It is essential that eligibility for medical care guidance is disseminated and understood by the chain of
  command and all civilians and military members of the deployed force. The AHS commander must be able