Which of the following best describes the healthcare team’s responsibilities?

• A. Preventative medicine, clinical medicine, unit readiness, hospital support
• B. Preventative medicine, clinical medicine, unit readiness, staff function
• C. Preventative medicine and clinical medicine
• D. Unit readiness and hospital support

Answer: (A)

The healthcare team’s responsibilities span health protection, direct medical care, mission readiness, and coordination with hospital systems. Preventive medicine focuses on keeping crew healthy through vaccination, disease surveillance, and risk mitigation. Clinical medicine covers diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses. Unit readiness ensures the team stays prepared to support missions, including training, equipment, and protocols to maintain capability in austere or deployed environments. Hospital support involves coordinating care beyond the unit, such as patient transfers, medical logistics, and liaison with hospital facilities to sustain operations across care levels. Descriptions that omit any of these areas—like leaving out hospital coordination or unit readiness—don’t capture the full scope of the team’s duties.