With only a five year gap between the end of World War II and the United States invasion of Korea, U.S. Army Medical Services were not yet recovered from the demands of the previous war and were highly unprepared to take on another. Of the 83 naval hospitals operational during World War II, only 26 remained in 1950 due to the extreme decrease in qualified medical personnel. In order to ensure that the deployed troops had proper medical care, Congress passed the "Doctor Draft Law" in September of 1950. This required the immediate drafting of physicians who had gone to medical school at the government's expense during World War II, but graduated after the war was over when their services were no longer necessary to the effort, which equated to nearly 90% of the doctors in Korea being "draftees". However, the number of physicians needed was far more than provided by the required draft, which led to the drafting of pediatricians, dermatologists, and other non-surgical doctors who had to quickly learn the skills of a surgeon on the job.
Med Evac
Helicopters became an essential method for transporting wounded soldiers from the battlefield to field hospitals due to the rugged Korean terrain that was often impassable by ambulances, becoming known as the "Air Ambulance Service". However, seeing as this was the first time in a war that helicopters had been used for medical purposes, certain parameters had to be met in order to qualify a patient for rescue by helicopter. The soldier had to have experienced either a head, chest, or abdominal wound that could have been worsened by a rough ambulance ride. These guidelines were put in place in order to best utuilize the use of helicopters for both military purposes, which is what they were originally intended for, and the new-found practice of medical rescue. The use of helicopters for medical purposes is arguably the most important advancement made during the Korean War. It is estimated that the rate of wartime fatalities dropped from 4.5% in World War II to 2.5%, largely in part to the nearly 20,000 men that were rescued by helicopters. General Matthew B. Ridway, the Commanding General of the United Nations Forces in Korea, said: "The wounded soldiers in Korea had a better chance of recovery than the soldier of any previous war. This was not by virtue of improved medical treatments availible at all echelons, but also in large measure because of his ready accessibility to major medical installations". General Ridgway was referring to the quick turn around time between injury and treatment provided by the helicopter service. During the war in Korea, patients were often to the hospital and receiving treatment within the hour of their injury.
Vascular Repair
While attempted in World War II, the practice of vascular repair was refined and developed most notably during the Korean War. By the end of the war, surgeons were able to graft sections of the soldiers' own veins to replace damaged arteries, allowing for the restoration of circulation. Repairing the veins of an injured limb avoided many unneccassry amputations and allowed for many of the injured soldiers to eventually return to duty.
Kidneys
With the rapid spread of Korean Hemorrhagic Fever amongst the soldiers in the Korean War, methods of treatment for kidney failure were extremely necessary and were therefore kicked into high gear. Artificial kidneys were used for the very first time for those whose organs were too far gone to save, and the Army's first dialysis machine was flown into Korea to help those still able to be saved.
Human Research
The varied climate of Korea offered many opportunities for research into the effects of the enviornment on the human body. By monitoring the impact extreme cold had on the soldiers, researchers were able to develop more appropriate cold weather clothing for future troops, which then carried over into the betterment of civillian clothing as well. By observing the symptoms and treatment administered to men with injuries from the cold weather, doctors were able to develop better methods of treatments for these wounds as well as advise on how to avoid them in the future.
Record Keeping
Advancements in computer technlogy prior to the United States invasion into Korea allowed for much better organization of records during this war. For the first time in history, data regarding all types of battle/non-battle casualties received in the warzone were computerized using a system of punch cards. This new method of record keeping allowed for the most detailed and convenient analysis of data the United States Military had ever seen.
MASH
Another essential aspect that must be taken into consideration with the drop in the mortality rate of soldiers during this war is the development of Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals, otherwise known as MASH. While the concept of a frontlines based surgical unit was introduced during World War II, the practice was most widely put in place in Korea. Because these hospitals allowed for surgeons to be closer to the battlefield, a soldier that made it to a MASH unit had a 97% chance of survival due to their quick receipt of proper treatment.
Med Evac
Helicopters became an essential method for transporting wounded soldiers from the battlefield to field hospitals due to the rugged Korean terrain that was often impassable by ambulances, becoming known as the "Air Ambulance Service". However, seeing as this was the first time in a war that helicopters had been used for medical purposes, certain parameters had to be met in order to qualify a patient for rescue by helicopter. The soldier had to have experienced either a head, chest, or abdominal wound that could have been worsened by a rough ambulance ride. These guidelines were put in place in order to best utuilize the use of helicopters for both military purposes, which is what they were originally intended for, and the new-found practice of medical rescue. The use of helicopters for medical purposes is arguably the most important advancement made during the Korean War. It is estimated that the rate of wartime fatalities dropped from 4.5% in World War II to 2.5%, largely in part to the nearly 20,000 men that were rescued by helicopters. General Matthew B. Ridway, the Commanding General of the United Nations Forces in Korea, said: "The wounded soldiers in Korea had a better chance of recovery than the soldier of any previous war. This was not by virtue of improved medical treatments availible at all echelons, but also in large measure because of his ready accessibility to major medical installations". General Ridgway was referring to the quick turn around time between injury and treatment provided by the helicopter service. During the war in Korea, patients were often to the hospital and receiving treatment within the hour of their injury.
Vascular Repair
While attempted in World War II, the practice of vascular repair was refined and developed most notably during the Korean War. By the end of the war, surgeons were able to graft sections of the soldiers' own veins to replace damaged arteries, allowing for the restoration of circulation. Repairing the veins of an injured limb avoided many unneccassry amputations and allowed for many of the injured soldiers to eventually return to duty.
Kidneys
With the rapid spread of Korean Hemorrhagic Fever amongst the soldiers in the Korean War, methods of treatment for kidney failure were extremely necessary and were therefore kicked into high gear. Artificial kidneys were used for the very first time for those whose organs were too far gone to save, and the Army's first dialysis machine was flown into Korea to help those still able to be saved.
Human Research
The varied climate of Korea offered many opportunities for research into the effects of the enviornment on the human body. By monitoring the impact extreme cold had on the soldiers, researchers were able to develop more appropriate cold weather clothing for future troops, which then carried over into the betterment of civillian clothing as well. By observing the symptoms and treatment administered to men with injuries from the cold weather, doctors were able to develop better methods of treatments for these wounds as well as advise on how to avoid them in the future.
Record Keeping
Advancements in computer technlogy prior to the United States invasion into Korea allowed for much better organization of records during this war. For the first time in history, data regarding all types of battle/non-battle casualties received in the warzone were computerized using a system of punch cards. This new method of record keeping allowed for the most detailed and convenient analysis of data the United States Military had ever seen.
MASH
Another essential aspect that must be taken into consideration with the drop in the mortality rate of soldiers during this war is the development of Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals, otherwise known as MASH. While the concept of a frontlines based surgical unit was introduced during World War II, the practice was most widely put in place in Korea. Because these hospitals allowed for surgeons to be closer to the battlefield, a soldier that made it to a MASH unit had a 97% chance of survival due to their quick receipt of proper treatment.