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 to 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, veterinary and disaster mortuary teams (DMORTs).

A DMAT is a locally-based volunteer organization which equips and trains under local sponsorship and Federal coordination.  

Because DMAT members are appointed as Federal employees, 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).

S.C. DMAT Mission Statement  

            The S.C. Disaster Medical Assistance Team is organized with a specific interest in providing appropriate responses to a call for assistance from the Federal NDMS or S.C. Rapid Response System. We will encourage the development of process improvement standards for disaster preparedness, response and recovery and in the development of a continuing education and training curriculum.

              The S.C. Disaster Medical Assistance Team will seek to actively join with existing teams from the Governor's Office of Emergency Preparedness and Department of Environmental Control. The S.C. Disaster Medical Assistance Team does not wish to compete with any other health care delivery unit and will be available to consult with any public or private entity desiring our collective input to assist in the improvement of  disaster preparedness, response or recovery.  The S.C. Rapid Response System provides its resources to augment available local resources, as required, for an event which is initially overwhelming.

              The S.C. Disaster Medical Assistance Team's goal is to have assets en route within one hour, to arrive within three hours and stay for eight to sixteen + hours. The SCDMAT will continue to augment local resources if a reappraisal of the event deems our presence appropriate and useful.