Coordination is essential between Command Staff, medical teams, and public health/preventive medicine assets. Given the highly complex nature of the COVID-19 disease and need for subject matter expertise (SME), Commanders are encouraged to designate a COVID-19 response and planning team consisting of medical and public health/preventive medicine SMEs along with operational planners. Task Force Med Leaders are encouraged to coordinate with respective Surgeon teams and Force Health Protection assets to translate and communicate all guidance and policy down to the most forward units with attention to operational security and patient privacy laws. In order to facilitate a coherent Joint effort, the response should follow established DoD procedures as outlined in DODI 6200.03 Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) Within the DoD, 28 Mar 2019 and DODI 6055.17 DoD Emergency Management (EM) Program, Change 3 effective 12 Jun 2019.

All leaders should operate under a number of considerations/assumptions including (but not limited to):

1. Command and Control (C2) authorities will remain unchanged unless otherwise directed. Combined Joint Task Force Surgeon (CJTF) and Component Surgeon cells should continue to collaborate and communicate closely with higher headquarter authority and disseminate information to the most forward units.
2. Current USCENTCOM missions will continue, unless otherwise directed, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, daily tasks may need to be reprioritized as required by a pandemic response to maintain surgical and critical care capabilities while minimizing spread of infectious disease in theater.
3. Leaders are encouraged to collaborate and delegate authority to improve comprehensiveness planning and operation activities. Subordinate leaders should be empowered to utilize their expertise and innovation within the boundaries set-forth by pre-established policy and guidance. The USCENTCOM Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Checklist, Joint Force Health Protection Team, COVID-19 Crisis Action Team (when available) will assist appropriate actions listed in Appendix A.
4. Communication is key for interdisciplinary COVID-19 planning and response. Limit jargon and clearly define all acronyms and unfamiliar terms, for example. Commanders should communicate key information to subordinate units.
5. Logistical and patient movement channels are likely to be altered by the pandemic both in theater and at receiving Role 4 Contiguous United States (CONUS) and Outside the Contiguous United States (OCONUS) facilities. These challenges must be overcome by clear communication and adaptive planning strategies.

RESOURCES

Refer to Headquarters, CJTF, and Component guidance for specific information and requirements with regards to operational planning guidance.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides Critical Care Planning-COVID-19 Quick Notes a two-page document which describes operationalization of the concept in three major categories: space, staff, supplies, and provision of critical care.

Planning and Preparation, pg6, Implications of COVID-19 on Surgical Care, p8, DoD COVID-19 PMG v7.0, 03 Mar 2021.

COVID-19 Response and Prevention Planning-Knovel (Elsevier)

DODI 6200.03 Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) Within the DoD, 28 Mar 2019

DODI 6055.17 DoD Emergency Management (EM) Program, Change 3 effective 12 Jun 2019