Development of a Model for Predicting Medical Supply Requirements at the forward Echelons of Care: Preliminary Findings for Echelon II Laboratory and X-Ray Ancillaries

Reductions in worst case scenario Marine Expeditionary Force casualty estimates and recent organizational changes in the structure of the medical battalion have contributed to the need to review the current Authorized Medical Allowance Lists (AMALs). The objective of the present study was to develop a model of the Echelon I and II supply stream that established a clinical requirement for each item used to support forward medical care. Using this approach, four proposed AMALs were produced including an equipment AMAL 618 and a consumable AMAL 619 for the laboratory function and an equipment AMAL 627 and a consumable AMAL 649 for the X-ray function. Results of this study showed substantial reductions in the number of items required, weight and cubic feet of the proposed AMALs when compared to the current Marine Corps AMALs. By establishing the clinical requirement for each item pushed forward, the NHRC model was able to substantially reduce the logistical burden carried by Marine Corps units. This approach also produced an audit trail for each item that allows medical planners and logisticians to substantially improve the process of configuring the AMALs because only items that can be clinically related to a treatment task conducted in theater are considered for inclusion in the AMALs.