Delivery of Medical Care off of the battlefield
Red Cross Hospitals
The American Red Cross (ARC) ran many hospitals in France and England, beginning early in the war. Its hospitals became the backbone of the initial efforts in the AEF. In France, 24 hospitals treated 91,356 AEF patients – one-third of American wounded – as well as military and civilian patients from other countries. ARC hospitals used special nomenclature: Red Cross Military Hospitals were under AEF control. Red Cross Hospitals treated Allied military and civilian wounded. The ARC hospitals in Paris were especially important from May to July, 1918. The AEF had not established hospitals there because US troops were not supposed to be fighting nearby. But then American troops were thrown into battle on the Marne. The ARC provided over 1,000 beds in that emergency, some ARC hospitals being moved forward as evacuation hospitals. A report at the time said “The Red Cross is considered a part of the Medical Department.” There were also 12 convalescent homes that helped 2700 American military patients for an average of three weeks each.
Beyond hospitals, the ARC operated 8 infirmaries and 13 dispensaries, two different levels of out-patient clinics, which were dedicated to the AEF. Dozens of other clinic facilities assisted French civilians and some Allied military personnel. The clinics were useful for a lower-profile medical 
purpose: the fight against venereal disease. They were widespread in the rear areas, allowing access for soldiers on leave. ARC clinics could and did treat French prostitutes that military hospitals could not treat. One ARC hospital was used solely for soldier VD patients.
Most of the AEF was in France, but thousands of troops transited through Britain, where the ARC operated over 20 medical facilities (hospitals, convalescent homes, infirmaries, and dispensaries).. Since some of the ARC hospitals had been established for years, their staff had considerable expertise and the AEF often used them for training.
Red Cross Women