What is a Disaster Medical Assistance Team?  What is TX-4 DMAT?

A DMAT is a group of professionals and para-professional medical personnel (supported by a cadre of logistical and administrative staff) designed to provide emergency medical care during a disaster or other unusual event.

A DMAT deploys to a disaster site with sufficient supplies and equipment to sustain the team for a period of 72 hours while providing medical care at a fixed or temporary medical care site. In a mass casualty incident, DMAT responsibilities include triaging of patients, providing austere medical care, and preparing patients for evacuation.

In other types of situations, a DMAT may provide primary health care and/or may serve to augment overloaded local health care staffs. Under the rare circumstance that disaster victims are evacuated to a different locale to receive definitive medical care, DMATs may be activated to support patient reception and disposition of patients to hospitals.

A DMAT is designed to be a rapid-response element to supplement local medical care until other Federal or contract resources can be mobilized, or the situation is resolved.

In addition to the general purpose of DMATs, there are some specialized DMATs in existence or under development, including burn, surgical, mental health, pediatrics, and disaster mortuary teams (DMORTs).

A DMAT is a locally-based organization which equips and trains under local sponsorship and Federal coordination. Texas-4 DMAT is sponsored by Lonestar DMAT, a non-profit corporation organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including the organization and dispatching of medical response teams in the event of a disaster in the State of Texas, United States and International.

Because DMAT members are appointed as Federal employees, and part of the National Diasater Medical System (NDMS) potential problems of licensure and certification are avoided, particularly where teams are moved across state lines. Additionally, DMAT members have the protection of the Federal Tort Claims Act in which the Federal Government becomes the defendant in the event of a malpractice claim, and DMAT members are fully compensated for their service. Members are required to maintain appropriate certifications and licensure within their discipline(s).

Texas-4 DMAT is principally a community resource available to support local, regional, and State requirements. However, as a National resource we can be Federalized to provide interstate aid.