The Integrated Medical Model: A Risk Assessment and Decision Support Tool for Space Flight Medical Systems

IntroductionThe Integrated Medical Model (IMM) is a decision support tool that is useful to missionplanners and medical system designers in assessing risks and designing medical systemsfor space flight missions. The IMM provides an evidence–based approach for optimizingmedical resources and minimizing risks within space flight operational constraints.MethodsThe mathematical relationships among mission and crew profiles, medical conditionincidence data, in-flight medical resources, potential crew functional impairments, andclinical end-states are established to determine probable mission outcomes. Stochasticcomputational methods are used to forecast probability distributions of crew health andmedical resource utilization, as well as estimates of medical evacuation and loss of crewlife. The IMM has been used in support of the International Space Station (ISS) medicalkit redesign, the medical component of the ISS Probabilistic Risk Assessment, and thedevelopment of the Constellation Medical Conditions List. The IMM also will be used torefine medical requirements for the Constellation program.DiscussionThe IMM outputs for ISS and Constellation design reference missions will be presentedto demonstrate the potential of the IMM in assessing risks, planning missions, anddesigning medical systems. The implementation of the IMM verification and validationplan will be reviewed. Additional planned capabilities of the IMM, includingoptimization techniques and the inclusion of a mission timeline, will be discussed.ConclusionsGiven the space flight constraints of mass, volume, and crew medical training, the IMMis a valuable risk assessment and decision support tool for medical system design andmission planning.