Why was the Ent-D sickbay so small? And why only one doctor?

[Shamrock Holmes]

I drafted deck plans and a crew roster for a small 100-man Patrol Cutter (actually, the Fed POL from SFB). The medical staff typically consists of one Doctor, one RN nurse or PA physician's assistant (either is "almost" a doctor in their own right), two enlisted corpsmen / combat medics, and one or two med-lab technicians, plus anyone who has Basic Emergency First Aid training. It's not uncommon to have a second Nurse or an Intern (doctor-in-training) assigned.

In context, that sort of makes sense, but doesn't alter the fact that that's a bigger medical department than anything smaller than an amphibous assault ship or helicopter carrier in the RW, which was the point that I was making.

For instance, the roughly half-manned decommissioning crew for USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) was about 170 personnel (The CO, XO, 27 officers (inc 1 CWO), 27 Chiefs and over a hundred petty officers and enlisted), and the only corpsmen onboard were a HM1 and an HM3. Based on a recent (2017) tour by the Vella Gulf then the standard complement would be perhaps a Chief and a 2 petty officers (both HM3 in this case, but presumably somewhat variable).

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Okay, to be honest, I probably could have come up with a more efficient design save for one thing. You may notice that both designs are left-right symmetrical. That's because the entire ship is left-right symmetrical. Blame it on my OCD.

I'm with you on the Left-Right Symmetry, I share your OCD.

In context, that sort of makes sense, but doesn't alter the fact that that's a bigger medical department than anything smaller than an amphibous assault ship or helicopter carrier in the RW, which was the point that I was making.

For instance, the roughly half-manned decommissioning crew for USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) was about 170 personnel (The CO, XO, 27 officers (inc 1 CWO), 27 Chiefs and over a hundred petty officers and enlisted), and the only corpsmen onboard were a HM1 and an HM3. Based on a recent (2017) tour by the Vella Gulf then the standard complement would be perhaps a Chief and a 2 petty officers (both HM3 in this case, but presumably somewhat variable).

Imagine what you could do with Human Doctors/Nurses + EMH/LMH's.

 

[BK613]

Okay, to be honest, I probably could have come up with a more efficient design save for one thing. You may notice that both designs are left-right symmetrical. That's because the entire ship is left-right symmetrical. Blame it on my OCD.

I'm with you on the Left-Right Symmetry, I share your OCD.

Actually I wish that inclination was more often suppressed by Treknologists; ship interiors are almost never driven by such a consideration unless there is some other factor involved (like, for instance, balancing the mass of machinery in relation to a center of gravity.)

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Actually I wish that inclination was more often suppressed by Treknologists; ship interiors are almost never driven by such a consideration unless there is some other factor involved (like, for instance, balancing the mass of machinery in relation to a center of gravity.)

I'm sure they'll pick a room for the SickBay that we can apply our Symmetrical OCD upon.

 

[BK613]

I'm sure they'll pick a room for the SickBay that we can apply our Symmetrical OCD upon.

Not saying there isn't symmetry but that the symmetry is akin the symmetry found inside your car's engine compartment. Sure, the engine block is (mostly) mirrored but then again, the battery is over there and the starter over here and the alternator down and to the left, etc.

IMO, I were to be brutally honest, a perfectly-mirrored starship comes across as a lazy design.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

IMO, I were to be brutally honest, a perfectly-mirrored starship comes across as a lazy design.

I don't care for the entire StarShip to be perfectly mirrored at the Deck Layout level.

Just within the room itself for the SickBay.

Your personal rooms / quarters, whatever.

 

[BK613]

Just within the room itself for the SickBay.

Could you clarify as to why? And FWIW, I am not trying to be a dick about this; I have just never found that kind of symmetry for symmetry's sake in any RW vessel I ever been aboard. So when I see it reflected in peep's designs those designs look unrealistic to me.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Could you clarify as to why? And FWIW, I am not trying to be a dick about this; I have just never found that kind of symmetry for symmetry's sake in any RW vessel I ever been aboard. So when I see it reflected in peep's designs those designs look unrealistic to me

Mostly for OCD with Symmetry for large communal areas.

 

[Sgt_G]

The ship in question is long and narrow, 111 x 27.5 meters, so it was already mostly symmetrical to begin with. The first idea I had wasn't -- the turbolift tube ran only along the starboard side -- which was very lopsided, but in the end it quickly became unworkable. There was a huge difference between what I envisioned and what was happening on the screen, so I scrapped it and started over. Once I had the thing 80% done, it was already so symmetrical I just kept the theme going.

 

[BK613]

Long and narrow? Here's the GR Ford's second deck plan. Let's just call it nuanced symmetry.

 

[blssdwlf]

Long and narrow? Here's the GR Ford's second deck plan. Let's just call it nuanced symmetry.

That looks optimized for crew to go down to the next deck than going up. Am I imagining that? FWIW, I prefer the "nuanced symmetry" after visiting different museum warships as well. I've been enjoying the YT videos put out by the BB Texas and BB New Jersey museum groups. Quite enlightening as well in addition to the experiences that you are sharing here.

 

[BK613]

@blssdwlf I think there are some Us lost in the green.

Any links to those YT videos?

 

[blssdwlf]

@blssdwlf I think there are some Us lost in the green.

Any links to those YT videos?

Yes Of the two channels, BB New Jersey has a lot more videos. Of the two, I've only visited in person the Texas a few times. (I've also visited the Cavalla, Stewart, Lexington and Constitution.)

Link to BB New Jersey channel
Link to BB Texas channel

 

[DEWLine]

Actually I wish that inclination was more often suppressed by Treknologists; ship interiors are almost never driven by such a consideration unless there is some other factor involved (like, for instance, balancing the mass of machinery in relation to a center of gravity.)

Making a note of this for my own design projects...

 

[BK613]

Yes Of the two channels, BB New Jersey has a lot more videos. Of the two, I've only visited in person the Texas a few times. (I've also visited the Cavalla, Stewart, Lexington and Constitution.)

Link to BB New Jersey channel
Link to BB Texas channel

Thanks. Looks like fun rabbit holes.
Ironically, the first video I watched on the NJ channel was about an aircraft carrier escalator. I've read about those but had never actually seen one live or otherwise.

 

[blssdwlf]

Thanks. Looks like fun rabbit holes.
Ironically, the first video I watched on the NJ channel was about an aircraft carrier escalator. I've read about those but had never actually seen one live or otherwise.

The Lexington has one that is non-working but is locked in place so visitors can use it going to and from the flight deck.

 

[trekshark]

I don't see an issue with starfleet ships having larger medical staffs per capita than current real world ships. Personnel in SF come in contact with unknown alien diseases all the time, plus they're days if not weeks away from starbases. Additionally SF ships often have to respond to help other ships or planets and act as hospitals.
Currently you can likely get flown to a hospital from a ship in 24 hours or less if you need treatment beyond the ability of the ship's staff.

 

[Abercrombie]

There are at least 3 "wards"

• Main sickbay ward shown on screen
• Third ward referred to in "Tapestry"
  
• Star drive section ward - Where Crusher was treated in "The Arsenal of Freedom" while the ship was still separated (Could be #3, but still means there is a #2)

There are at least 3 Doctors on board

• CMO Crusher/Pulaski
• Dr. Selar (seen in "The Schizoid Man")
• Dr. Hill (mentioned in "Remember Me")

There are a minimum of 4 medical staff members on duty at any time

Tapestry
CRUSHER: Bring the stasis units in here, and have them online.
MEDIC: Yes, Doctor.
CRUSHER: Tell Doctor Selar she can use ward three for the ambulatory cases, and I'll stay here.

Remember Me
O'BRIEN: Doctor, it's no use checking my eyesight. I didn't see your friend.
CRUSHER: I'll be a little more comprehensive than that, Chief. Doctor Crusher to Doctor Hill. Respond, please. Doctor Selar, your present location? Computer, current whereabouts of Doctors Hill and Selar.
COMPUTER: There is no Doctor Hill or Doctor Selar aboard the Enterprise
-----------------------------
CRUSHER: Doctors Hill and Selar, and four other members of my medical staff have all vanished. All record of their ever having been on the Enterprise has been excised from the computer's memory.
PICARD: Did they come aboard with Doctor Quaice?
CRUSHER: No. They've been on board for months. But my two duty nurses don't remember them. Their families don't even remember them.
PICARD: As O'Brien didn't remember Doctor Quaice.
----------------------
CRUSHER: Sickbay is totally empty. Apparently I no longer have any staff.
RIKER: And that surprises you, Doctor?
CRUSHER: Surprises me? I'll say it surprises me. There should be at least four members of my staff on duty at all times.
DATA: I am afraid ship's records do not concur. Doctor.
CRUSHER: What are you talking about?
DATA: You do not have a staff.
CRUSHER: You're telling me I'm the sole medical officer on a ship with over a thousand people on board?
DATA: Excuse me, Doctor, but the entire ship's complement is two hundred and thirty.

 

[Ottens]

Star drive section ward - Where Crusher was treated in "The Arsenal of Freedom" while the ship was still separated.

Could be the same sickbay as the one that was evacuated in Generations.

It makes a lot of sense for the stardrive section to have its own sickbay. It actually wouldn't make sense for the stardrive section not to have its own sickbay.

 

[Mytran]

DATA: You do not have a staff.
CRUSHER: You're telling me I'm the sole medical officer on a ship with over a thousand people on board?
DATA: Excuse me, Doctor, but the entire ship's complement is two hundred and thirty.

I'm sure this line is to blame for why Voyager only had one Doctor