Aaron Lassmann

ISM- Period 7
United States of America. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Office of the Chief
Health and Medical Officer. NASA Space Flight Human System Standard. By NASA.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 5 Mar. 2007. Web. 20 Mar. 2015.

Medical care is described in two distinct terms: Level of Care and Standards of Care.
Level of Care is the amount and type of care rendered based on perceived need and the
ability of the provider.
Standard of Care is the benchmark and current clinical practice by which that care is
provided.
Level of care is affected by the training level of the provider, technology, mission duration,
type of mission, time required to return to Earth, and the health and performance of the
crew upon embarking on the mission.
Level of Care Zero- No perceived medical risk exists, and no medical support is planned.
Only certain nonhazardous training activities fall into this category.
Level of Care One- Little perceived risks or threats exist. This level requires basic first-aid
capability. Level of Care One is given for survival training and transfer missions to vehicles
in low-earth orbit (LEO) and sub-orbital flights.
Level of Care Two- A moderate level of risk is present. This level requires that preventive
strategies be put in place to reduce risk to an acceptable level. This level shall be provided
for crews in LEO for less than 30 days.
Level of Care Three- A moderate to high level of risk of medical problems during training or
a specific portion of the mission is present. This level requires a greater degree of preventive
measures and an increased level of advanced care through medications and equipment. This
level shall be provided for missions outside LEO, but less than 30 days in duration.
Level of Care Four- A moderate to high level of medical risk during orbit is present.
Increased preventive strategies and availability of advance care is necessary. Also, return to
Earth may take days. This level shall be provided for lunar/planetary missions greater than
30 days, but equal or less than 210 days and for LEO missions longer than 30 days.
Level of Care Five- A high level of risk of medical problems occurring throughout he
mission exists. The training of the caregiver must be at the level of a physician and
preventive measures and levels of advanced care should be increased. Return to Earth is not
a possible solution. This level should be provided for lunar/planetary missions exceeding
210 days.

This source, as it is an official NASA document, allows for a greater understanding of the goals
NASA has for medical capabilities in space and gives me, personally, a greater understanding of the
level to which lunar/planetary missions must be held.