scope:

Aim

The aim of the STANAG 2560 Evaluation of NATO Medical Treatment Facilities is to provide the structure for evaluation of multinational medical capabilities. This document provides the framework for nations to certify their own medical capabilities. Based on the medical evaluation, the subsequent certification is the official recognition that a staff, module, unit or force component can provide the defined capability agreed by nations or, if it cannot, documents the residual risk and required mitigation.

1. Usage. The STANAG 2560 Evaluation of NATO Medical Treatment Facilities should be utilized as the tool to provide the structure for the evaluation of multinational medical capabilities. The STANAG 2560 Evaluation of NATO Medical Treatment Facilities can be applied to multinational medical forces either prior or after deployment. This document can also be used as a validation tool. The tool will serve as a reference for common standards, procedures and terminology. It supports the overarching goal of achieving best medical practice. The structure of the document allows the user to select only the relevant sections from the key questionnaire, capability matrix and skills matrix.

2. Application. The STANAG 2560 Evaluation of NATO Medical Treatment Facilities is the toolbox developed for personnel involved in evaluating a Multinational Medical Unit (MMU) assigned to a NATO Command. However, anyone involved with medical education, training and evaluation may find the STANAG 2560 Evaluation of NATO Medical Treatment Facilities an useful reference. It can be applied either as a whole or for the evaluation and certification of single capabilities. Nations are encouraged to use the information provided within AMedP 1.8 for the evaluation and certification of capabilities.

3. Principles. The STANAG 2560 Evaluation of NATO Medical Treatment Facilities reinforces the principles that effective multinational medical support can only be achieved through effective training. It builds upon the responsibility of individual medical knowledge and skills based on agreed standards enabling the individual to be part of a medical capability working in a national or multinational medical environment (Module or Unit).

4. Considerations for evaluation requests. The MEM is designed to evaluate multinational medical units or systems. Multiple medical systems taking part in the same mission or deployed in the same region can be evaluated subsequently by a single team or simultaneously by different teams. This depends on geographical, logistical and operation constraints and is to be decided in coordination with the intended Lead Evaluator.

5. Lessons learned process. As an evaluation tool, the STANAG 2560 Evaluation of NATO Medical Treatment Facilities must remain current and applicable to the forces to be evaluated. This means that the tool will be dynamic by nature and content and that the evaluation issues will be contextual with circumstances, operational experiences and doctrinal developments. The method for achieving effective currency with changes in medical practice within NATO is the lessons learned process. The evaluation of operational developments by the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC) serves as the formal route to ensure that NATO gains maximum advantage from the recorded events of note. It is therefore imperative that the STANAG 2560 Evaluation of NATO Medical Treatment Facilities review process incorporates a formal methodology for incorporating lessons learned into the text of the document.