Definitive Medical Care
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is primarily responsible for providing definitive patient care of evacuated patients by concentrating on major metropolitan areas that have available air access, an NDMS Federal Coordinating Center (FCC), hospital support and patient reception and distribution capabilities. Developed from the Civilian Military Contingency Hospital System (CMCHS), NDMS exists as a key role in coordinating a nationwide medical mutual aid network utilizing both public and private sector assets.

What is the hospital's role in NDMS?
Accredited hospitals, usually over 100 beds in size and located in large U.S. metropolitan areas, are encouraged to enter into a voluntary agreement with NDMS. Hospitals agree to commit a number of their acute care beds, subject to availability, for NDMS patients. Because this is a completely voluntary program, hospitals may, upon activation of the System, provide more or fewer beds than the number committed in the agreement. Hospitals that admit NDMS patients are eligible for Federal reimbursement.

What are Federal Coordinating Centers?
Federal Coordinating Centers (FCCs) recruit hospitals and maintain local non-Federal hospital participation in the NDMS; assist in the recruitment, training, and support of DMATs; coordinate exercise development and emergency plans with participating hospitals and other local authorities in order to develop patient reception, transportation, and communication plans; and, during System activation, coordinate the reception and distribution of patients being evacuated to the area.