Sickbay

Sickbay, also known as the dispensary or as Medbay, is the medical center aboard a Federation starship like the Enterprise. Overseen by the Chief Medical Officer or a designated medical practitioner, Sickbay can analyze new lifeforms, care for wounded people, or develop new treatments for disease or illness.

Traditionally, Sickbay comprises of the following sections aboard a starship:

Clinic: The largest section of a Sickbay, the Clinic contains biobeds for patients receiving medical care and were equipped with biofunction monitors. If necessary, surgery can be conducted in the Clinic if there was an overflow of patients.
Laboratory: Small Laboratory facilities allow Medical Officers to monitor experiments or run tests here during their duty shift while larger Medical Labs offered additional support. Often, the Lab would include a computer desk where a doctor could conduct meetings with patients, staff, and others.
Surgical Bay: A specialized section of Sickbay, the Surgical Bay allows major surgeries to be performed and critical patients to be treated. Outfitted with a surgical biobed and support frame, the Surgical Bay has a sophisticated sensor cluster to give enhanced information about a patient's condition.

Aboard the Enterprise other treatment facilities were available to support the activities of Sickbay, with most of Decks 5 and 15. Aid Stations were located throughout the Enterprise to allow for quick treatment of disease or illness not requiring the intervention of the larger Sickbay. Counseling offices were located adjacent to each Sickbay. A large morgue facility was available to support storage of deceased patients until they could be offloaded for transport back to their homeworld, but autopsies were performed in one of the Sickbay Wards. A Stasis Unit was available to place patients temporarily into suspended animation for later treatment and a Decompression Chamber was available. In the event of a large-scale disaster or humanitarian crisis encountered by the Enterprise, Cargo Bays and Shuttlebays could be used as triage centers and even morgues.

Due to Sickbay's importance to the ship and crew, Sickbay was usually located deep within the structure of a starship for added protection. Sickbays were well-protected with Security personnel stationed nearby and include a Phaser locker for defense in the event the ship was boarded by a hostile force. Sickbay is also well stocked with a variety of medical equipment and supplies with most within easy access, but large quantities of backup medical supplies for disaster relief were stored in the Cargo Bays.

Primary Sickbay

Located on Deck 5 in the Saucer Module, the Primary Sickbay is the main medical complex aboard the Starship Enterprise. Comprising four nearly identical complexes, the Primary Sickbay is one of the best defended locations aboard the entire vessel and is constantly manned. Holographic projectors are built into the entire complex, allowing for complex treatment environments to be replicated and the usage of medical holograms.

The largest section of the Sickbay Complex is the clinic. Consisting of a load-out of six standard biobeds and one surgical bed in the main ward, the clinic provides for the initial treatment of a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries, some of which may be life-threatening and require immediate attention. The clinic itself was considered to be general purpose, and was often the location of regular crew physicals, appointments, and treatment of various medical emergencies, meaning that it could effectively handle the majority of situations that a starship crew would face. Biobeds installed in this area are primarily designed for recovery purposes, maximizing healing and sanitation of patients while convalescing, but emergency surgical procedures could be conducted if there was an overflow of patients. Biofunction sensors tied in with the nearby nurse's station within the ward offers constant monitoring of patients, helping to ensure efficiency of treatment for any patient within the sickbay. Equipment storage and various control panels were located throughout the clinic as well to help with ensuring quality care.

Located in the center of the Sickbay complex was an office for the on duty Medical Officer to use while serving in the Sickbay Ward. Here, the doctor was provided with an area to work in privacy or conduct meetings with patients, staff, and others. Located behind this office was a small medical laboratory facility where the medical staff or other associated personnel could monitor experiments or run tests during their duty shifts without having to travel to one of the larger laboratories elsewhere on the ship. Just off the medical lab and office was located a tiny seating area for patients or people waiting for updates on injured or sick crewmembers.

Located adjacent to the office, a large surgical bay allows for complex surgical procedures to be completed away from a Starbase or planetside hospital center. Fitted with a surgical biobed equipped with a surgical support frame, the surgical bay is supported by a large, sophisticated sensor cluster that provides detailed information about a patient's condition. If a patient needed to be quarantined or was a risk to the safety of the ship, the surgical bay could be isolated by a high-capacity force field. A single workstation in the room offers personnel the ability to closely monitor patients and surgical procedures in real-time.

Secondary Sickbay

Located on Deck 15 in the Stardrive Section, the Secondary Sickbay is a supplementary medical complex used aboard the Starship Enterprise. Consisting of two nearly identical wards, associated support locations, and equipment, the Secondary Sickbay is primarily used when the Enterprise is operating in separated flight mode.

Entry into Sickbay brings the patient directly into a small waiting room dominated by a Nurse's Station capable of comfortably seating three nurses. Nearby couches allow seating of waiting patients and family members while a small Transporter alcove allows for patients to be transported directly to Sickbay. A painting of the Enterprise exploring the galaxy is placed above the sitting area; however, these are different in each Ward. Directly parallel to the waiting area, an Intensive Care Room offers close supervision of a patient with severe or life-threatening illness or injury. Specialized holographic emitters can be activated inside the Intensive Care Room to allow for patients to be treated in their native environment.

Located along the opposite wall of the waiting area, the clinic area serves as a combination examination area and recovery ward. The five biobeds installed in this area are designed to aid in patient recovery, maximizing healing while biofunction monitors offer constant monitoring of patients. Transparent aluminum walls allow for the close observation of patients from the Nurse's Station in the lobby and twin private bathrooms located against the bulkhead are available to the patients for their usage as needed.

Located behind the lobby area, a long corridor allows access to additional support stations for the medical team and patients. The Medical Laboratory is a specialized compartment where tests are conducted on clinical specimens to obtain information about the health of a patient to aid in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. A combination pharmacy and storage unit is placed next to the lab, storing medications and other equipment that can be used to help in the treatment of patients. Three offices are placed in this area for private consultation with patients and for scheduled appointments. The largest office, located closest to the Surgical Bay, is used by the Ward's Medical Director and is decorated with personal mementos and trinkets.

The last section of the Medical Complex is the Surgical Bay. Fitted with twin surgical biobeds equipped with a surgical support frame, this area allows for complex surgical procedures to be completed quickly and efficiently by the medical team of the Enterprise. A large, sophisticated sensor cluster supports medical procedures and gives detailed information about a patient's overall health and condition. In true emergencies threatening the health and safety of the rest of the ship, each bay can be quarantined by a high-capacity isolation forcefield.

Medical Support

Aid Station

Located throughout the Starship Enterprise, Aid Stations are supplemental locations that offer medical assistance to personnel who's medical needs do not require visiting one of the vessel's larger Sickbay compounds. Aid Stations are spartan healthcare centers that are usually staffed by a single nurse or medic, but sometimes can be manned by the Enterprise's Emergency Medical Hologram if staff are unavailable to provide support due to operational need. Each Aid Station has its own dedicated life-support system and the location can be quarantined from the rest of the ship in an emergency situation to protect the crew from danger.

Aid Stations are designed to offer treatment for minor diseases or to perform simple surgeries that would not require more complex intervention or equipment. Often, Aid Stations would be setup to meet a specialized medical need, such as obstetrics, physical therapy, or other specialty. Each Aid Station aboard the Enterprise is outfitted with twin recovery biobeds and associated biofunction monitors that provide real-time information on a patient's vital signs to the medical staff. While Aid Stations do not equip surigical biobeds, medical sensor clusters have been installed into the bulkheads. Adjacent to the treatment area, each Aid Station includes a spartan research area that consists of an integrated computer terminal capable of completing limited medical investigation and includes priority uplinks to Starfleet Medical's databases.

Counseling Office

Counseling Offices are the primary workplaces of Counselors aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. Located on Deck 5 in the Saucer and Deck 15 in the Stardrive Section, each Counselor aboard the Enterprise has been assigned their own personal office to use when seeing to the mental health of the starship's crew and visitors.

Decorated in neutral tones, each Counseling Office is outfitted with the same basic equipment and uniform layout. Offering seating for two guests, the dominant feature of the office is a large work desk for the Counselor. A desktop terminal has been assigned to each office to allow the Counselor the opportunity to maintain records or conduct research projects. Opposite the desk, a chair and large couch allow for informal discussion to take place in a more relaxed setting. A side alcove supports a food replicator and entry to a shared restroom while a window allows the Counselor an opportunity to look out into the space around the ship.

Each Counseling Office is decorated according to the individual tastes of the Counselor assigned to it. A shelf behind the desk often features personal items kept on display, most commonly books or personal knickknacks. Commonly a painting is hung above the couch as a conversation piece, often with the image depicting a body of water, landscape, or starship. Sometimes therapy animals are permitted inside the Counseling Offices, but aquariums are a common occurrence.

Decontamination Chamber

Located on Deck 12 in both the Saucer and Engineering Sections, the Decontamination Chamber (also known as Decon) was used for decontaminating crewmembers after exposure to the potentially dangerous environmental conditions, lifeforms, materials, airborne bodies, or other contaminants found in alien environments such as planets or spacecraft.

A common occurrence on early Starfleet vessels, Decon was believed to have become obsolete in the 23rd Century as Transporter biofilters and advanced shipboard ventilation systems helped to screen out threats to the crew of the vessel. Despite this, Starfleet Command began reinstituting Decon Chambers in the early 25th Century after a rise in conditions that could not be screened out. Utilizing a combination of ultraviolet radiation and various topical skin gels to achieve eliminate threats, the chamber offered very little privacy and would require users to disrobe and remain in the cramped chamber for extended periods. One of the smallest rooms on the Enterprise, Decon was not much larger than a turbolift and featured two benches and an observation window.

Examination/Recovery Room

Located near the Sickbay Complexes, the combination Exam/Recovery Rooms are used by the medical team aboard the Starship Enterprise to aid in the recovery of patients.

In their role as an Examination Room scheduled patients consult their physician, receive a medical examination, or receive a variety of noninvasive treatments and procedures. Treatments received in the exam room do not require the strict environmental controls of a Surgical Bay, but are more restrictive than the procedures available within Sickbay itself. In its role as a Recovery Room, patients with severe or life-threatening illnesses and injuries requiring constant care and close supervision to ensure normal bodily functions can be monitored by members of the medical team during their recovery.

Triangular in shape, the Exam/Recovery Room is designed to be as comfortable as possible for both patient and doctor. A focal point of the room was a large desk, with a built-in personal computer, and chairs for two guests to allow for private discussions between doctor and patient. A biobed was located in the corner near an exterior window, allowing for the near continuous monitoring of a patient's vital signs. Various books and assorted nicknacks were placed around the room to add to the comfort of patients unable to return to their quarters due to treatment requirements. The Exam/Recovery Room also features a small private bathroom for the patient's use.

Infirmary

Located on Deck 1, the Infirmary is a specialized Aid Station has been established to provide emergency medical care to the Enterprise's Bridge crew should they be injured and unable to access Sickbay or travel far from the Bridge. Like its counterparts, the Infirmary is a spartan healthcare center that is usually staffed by a nurse or medic, yet maintains three biobeds for patients and incorporates the latest in biomedical sensor technology. In the event of an emergency, despite its proximity to the Bridge, the Infirmary could be quarantined and isolated from the rest of the starship with limited impact to the vessel's operations.

While the traditional Aid Station offers treatment options for minor diseases or simple surgeries, the Infirmary is capable of a more robust treatment acumen than its counterparts. The Infirmary further includes a small research terminal that allows for medical investigation and laboratory work to be completed without travel to the other Sickbay compounds aboard the vessel.

Medlab

Designed to support the small laboratories built into the Sickbay Compounds aboard the Enterprise, the Medlabs are specialized laboratories where medical research and experiments were performed. Similar in size to the primary Science Labs aboard the Enterprise, each Medlab also incorporated biobeds for patient recovery.

Each Medlab featured an open-plan layout and was filled with laboratory equipment used for medical experimentation. The primary component of the Medlab was the imaging chamber, which could be used to do full body scans and to perform various medical procedures. A patient using the chamber would lay flat on a small bed that extended out from the chamber and would slide into the unit while in operation. A large door would then seal, allowing for complex scans to be performed of the patient with information fed directly to the biofunction monitors mounted adjacent to the chamber. Among the treatments available included the ability to initiate antiproton therapy designed to counteract the genetic unspooling caused by acute radiation syndrome or to treat illnesses caused by decompression sickness, such as that suffered by crewmen exposed to explosive decompression and the vacuum of space. The Imaging Chamber also served as a bio-temporal chamber capable of exposing a patient to bio-temporal fields to treat related temporal illnesses.

A research station has been constructed into a curved wall that separates the Imaging Chamber from the rest of the Medlab. Allowing the analysis of any specimens taken from a patient or other biological samples, enhanced sensor systems built into the allow for the quick examination of samples. Medications and other supplies are stored directly behind the research station in a pharmacy area.

Morgue

Located adjacent to the Sickbays on Decks 5 and 15 aboard the Enterprise, the Morgue is used to store the remains of the recently deceased for the purposes of identification of the body, performing an autopsy, or completion of other postmortem activity.

A small room, the Morgue is a rectangular compartment that contains five specialized Morgue Units along the bulkheads. These units, which are designed to serve as a storage compartment for keeping dead bodies, incorporate stasis field generators to preserve the dead until autopsy, transport, or burial can be completed. A large control panel atop the unit is used to open the internal drawer, giving access to the remains and connection to shipboard sensors and technologies. In an emergency, the Morgue Units can be used to keep living beings in stasis, potentially masking their life signs from shipboard sensors, and helping to maintain the patient until the vessel could reach help.

Surgical Bay

Located adjacent to the Sickbay Complexes in the Primary and Secondary Hulls of the Starship Enterprise, the Surgical Bays are used to complete surgeries that were too complicated to conduct in Sickbay.

Outfitted with a variety of bio-support systems, the Surgical Bays are stocked with the latest in medical technologies known to Federation Science. Circular in shape with an attached anteroom, the primary focus of the Surgical Bay is the Surgical Biobed. The only Biobed in the area, this unit has been designed for surgical purposes and supports various hookups for surgical equipment. Specialized sensors built into the bed provide detailed information about the patient's status at all times and are supplemented by a large sensor cluster, similar to those in Sickbay, with the information fed to a nearby workstation. Sterilization fields are in place around the Biobed at all times to protect the patient from contamination.

Attached to the surgical chamber, a small anteroom contains monitoring workstations for the medical team of the Enterprise to use to keep track of the patient both during and following their surgery. To better assist recovery, laboratory space is available to allow for faster processing of samples obtained during the procedure.

Disclaimer

The Enterprise's Primary Sickbay began life as the Katra - Sickbay cutaway designed by Falke2009. No infringement intended.

The Enterprise's Secondary Sickbay began life as the USS Vanguard - Sickbay cutaway designed by Falke2009. No infringement intended.

The Enterprise's Aid Stations began life as the USS Lalo - Deck 03: Main Sickbay designed by Tadeo D'Oria. No infringement intended.

The Enterprise's Infirmary, Medlab, Morgue, and Surgical Bay are based upon locations created for various Star Trek television programs designed by Paramount Pictures. No infringement intended.

U.S.S. Enterprise Medical Section