Tactical Medical Logistics Planning Tool: Modeling Operational Risk Assessment

Abstract : The Tactical Medical Logistics Planning Tool (TML+) is a software program designed for Navy and Marine Corps medical planners as a tool that (1) models the patient flow from the point of injury through more definitive care, and (2) supports operations research and systems analysis studies, operational risk assessment, and field medical services planning. TML+ is designed with a user-friendly graphic user interface, an open architecture, and four program modules. The 'casualty generation module' uses an exponential distribution to stochastically generate wounded in action, disease, and nonbattle injuries. The 'care providing module' uses generic task sequences, simulated treatment times, and personnel, consumable supply, and equipment requirements to model patient treatment and queuing within a functional area. The 'network/transportation module' simulates the evacuation (including queuing) and routing of patients through the network of care via transportation assets. The 'reporting module' produces an Access database detailing various metrics, such as patient disposition, time-in-system data, and consumables, equipment, personnel and transportation utilization rates, which can be filtered according to the user's needs. TML+ can be used before deployment as a deliberate planning tool or during deployment as a crisis-action tool that assists planners in responding to the rapidly changing wartime environment.