Traveling Hospital

Because of Katrina, the US's first state-of-the-art, mobile hospital was put to use. Established by the Department of Homeland Security, this 113 bed hospital travels in a convoy that includes two 53-foot trailors, and includes such technology and services as ultrasounds, satellite internet, a full pharmacy, and digital radiology which makes it possible for doctors to perform most surgeries.

The hospitals first trial run was at a K-Mart parking lot in Mississippi where the first patient was a dehydrated dog. Within the next 16 hours, nearly 100 people were treated. The only questionable aspect of the mobile hospital is the lack of paperwork and questioning of insurance.


My questions are: Should there be a market of "mobile hospitals" for situations such as Katrina, or other crises? Noting the lack of paperwork and insurance info, would these hospitals end up costing the goverment way too much to operate? What kinds of effects would these hospitals have on the economy?