v50 Steam/Premium information for editors
  • v50 information can now be added to pages in the main namespace. v0.47 information can still be found in the DF2014 namespace. See here for more details on the new versioning policy.
  • Use this page to report any issues related to the migration.
This notice may be cached—the current version can be found here.

Editing v0.34:Health care

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Warning: You are not logged in.
Your IP address will be recorded in this page's edit history.

You are editing a page for an older version of Dwarf Fortress ("Main" is the current version, not "v0.34"). Please make sure you intend to do this. If you are here by mistake, see the current page instead.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.

Latest revision Your text
Line 9: Line 9:
 
==Setting up a Hospital==
 
==Setting up a Hospital==
 
* Hit {{k|i}} and set up a hospital [[zone]] in the area you plan on having your hospital. Be sure "Hospital" is highlighted. Proximity to [[water]] is a plus, since patients need to be washed and cannot drink alcohol.
 
* Hit {{k|i}} and set up a hospital [[zone]] in the area you plan on having your hospital. Be sure "Hospital" is highlighted. Proximity to [[water]] is a plus, since patients need to be washed and cannot drink alcohol.
−
* Place enough [[bed]]s in that zone to ensure you can keep all wounded dwarves in the hospital, plus a few spare that will be occupied by lazy couch-surfers.{{bug|647}} Note that normal beds or [[bedroom]]s can and will accept wounded dwarves whether or not a hospital zone exists, though hospital beds will be preferred if they are free. Doctors do not need a hospital zone, though a lack of equipment will probably limit care options.
+
* Place enough [[bed]]s in that zone to ensure you can keep all wounded dwarves in the hospital, plus a few spare that will be occupied by lazy couch-surfers.{{bug|647}}  
−
* Build [[container]]s ({{k|b}}-{{k|h}}) to store hospital supplies. (A small hospital can manage with 2 containers, a fully fledged fortress with an adventurous military may need as much as 8. Also note that some people recommend setting up custom stockpiles instead.)
+
* Build containers ({{k|b}}-{{k|h}}) to store hospital supplies. (Generally you want at least eight for a fully equipped hospital.)
−
* Build at least one [[table]] ({{k|b}}-{{k|t}}) for surgeons to perform surgery on. You may perform surgery without tables; it will be more messy.
+
* Build [[table]]s ({{k|b}}-{{k|t}}) for surgeons to perform surgery on. You may perform surgery without tables; it will be more messy.
 
** Place the tables right next to the beds, or you may get "cancels surgery, patient not resting" spam, as moving the sleeping patient more than one square from the bed to the table wakes up the patient. {{bug|2773}}
 
** Place the tables right next to the beds, or you may get "cancels surgery, patient not resting" spam, as moving the sleeping patient more than one square from the bed to the table wakes up the patient. {{bug|2773}}
 
** Multiple dwarves may undergo simultaneous surgeries on the same table.
 
** Multiple dwarves may undergo simultaneous surgeries on the same table.
−
* Build one or more [[traction bench]]es to handle compound fractures when the dwarf requires "immobilization." Remember to check back on the <strike>victim</strike> patient after a while or they may be in the traction bench for a long, long time.{{bug|4470}} (Or be lucky; sometimes immobilization requests simply disappear with no bad consequences.)
+
* Build one or more [[traction bench]]es to handle compound fractures when the dwarf requires "immobilization." Remember to check back on the <strike>victim</strike> patient after a while or they may be in the traction bench a long, long time.{{bug|4470}}
 
** Each traction bench can only accommodate one dwarf at a time, and the dwarf may be there for quite some time, so plan accordingly.
 
** Each traction bench can only accommodate one dwarf at a time, and the dwarf may be there for quite some time, so plan accordingly.
−
* Stockpiles are not needed but can be used instead of chests and bags in the hospital zone.
+
* Stockpiles are not needed as chests or bags in the hospital zone will be filled with the necessary materials to help a dwarf fix a dwarf that had a little too much [[fun]].
 
* Assign a [[chief medical dwarf]] (in the [[noble]]s screen) to enable the fortress-wide [[health screen]] as well as invidual dwarves' health summary screens ({{k|v}}-{{k|z}}-{{k|h}}).
 
* Assign a [[chief medical dwarf]] (in the [[noble]]s screen) to enable the fortress-wide [[health screen]] as well as invidual dwarves' health summary screens ({{k|v}}-{{k|z}}-{{k|h}}).
 
* Pick one or more dwarves to be doctors, and enable the health labor(s) on them (through {{k|v}}-{{k|p}}-{{k|l}}). Be sure the diagnosis labor is well covered. Without a diagnosis, patients cannot be treated. If they cannot be treated, they will occupy the hospital area until they die, performing no function. (Any dwarf with the Diagnosis labor enabled can diagnose dwarves, but the Chief Medical Dwarf may impact the diagnosis job creation{{verify}}.  Once a patient is diagnosed, you can see on the individual health screen what procedures are needed, for example washing or suturing.)
 
* Pick one or more dwarves to be doctors, and enable the health labor(s) on them (through {{k|v}}-{{k|p}}-{{k|l}}). Be sure the diagnosis labor is well covered. Without a diagnosis, patients cannot be treated. If they cannot be treated, they will occupy the hospital area until they die, performing no function. (Any dwarf with the Diagnosis labor enabled can diagnose dwarves, but the Chief Medical Dwarf may impact the diagnosis job creation{{verify}}.  Once a patient is diagnosed, you can see on the individual health screen what procedures are needed, for example washing or suturing.)
−
* If you use a [[burrow]] to keep doctors near the hospital zone, ensure that this burrow covers all needed materials or you could get job cancellations because of lack of material.  Thread/cloth stockpiles, and items bought from caravans (e.g. plaster early in the game) are often the most troubling.
 
  
 
== Skills and Injuries==
 
== Skills and Injuries==
 
'''Doctors''' have 5 specialized skills and 2 support healthcare labors.
 
'''Doctors''' have 5 specialized skills and 2 support healthcare labors.
  
−
[[Diagnostician]] -- [[Surgeon]] -- [[Suturer]] -- [[Wound dresser]] -- [[Bone doctor]] -- Feed patients/prisoners -- [[Recovering wounded]]
+
[[Diagnostician]] -- [[Surgeon]] -- [[Suturer]] -- [[Wound dresser]] -- [[Bone doctor]] -- [[Feed patients/prisoners]] -- [[Recovering wounded]]
  
−
Those with the '''recover wounded''' labor will attempt to bring a wounded dwarf to the hospital zone, or lacking one to the nearest unoccupied bed. Note that recovering wounded appears to be an extremely low priority task.  Since immobile patients will need to be carried to a hospital before diagnosis, it may be necessary to temporarily disable all other labors on another dwarf to move them first.
+
Those with the '''recover wounded''' labor will attempt to bring a wounded dwarf to the hospital zone, or lacking one to the nearest unoccupied bed. A '''diagnoser''' will then identify and prescribe a treatment which any doctor (including himself) may carry out. A dwarf cannot be treated without a diagnosis. Depending on the injury a treatment labor will occur. Diagnosis is often required between procedures as well.
−
 
 
−
A '''diagnoser''' will then identify and prescribe a treatment which any doctor (including himself) may carry out. A dwarf cannot be treated without a diagnosis. Depending on the injury a treatment labor will occur. Diagnosis is often required between procedures as well.
 
  
 
[[Wound|Injuries]]
 
[[Wound|Injuries]]
Line 46: Line 43:
 
|}
 
|}
 
If a chief medical dwarf is appointed you can view your fortress' health using the {{k|z}}-status key), or individually by selecting a dwarf and using {{k|w}} for wounds section.
 
If a chief medical dwarf is appointed you can view your fortress' health using the {{k|z}}-status key), or individually by selecting a dwarf and using {{k|w}} for wounds section.
−
* '''Bones''' can be set and treated by bone doctors depending on severity using thread and cloth for fractures, splints and casts, or traction benches. Grasping is often impaired during healing.  The {{DFtext|Immobilization Request}} status tag is an indication that a splint or plaster cast is required. Multiple overlapping and compound fractures require a surgeon. Caused by [[attack_types#Blunt_weapons|blunt]] trauma.
+
* '''Bones''' can be set and treated by bone doctors depending on severity using thread and cloth for fractures, splints and castes, or traction benches. Grasping is often impaired during healing.  The {{DFtext|Immobilization Request}} status tag is an indication that a splint or plaster cast is required. Multiple overlapping and compound fractures require a surgeon. Caused by [[attack_types#Blunt_weapons|blunt]] trauma.
 
*'''Skin and muscle''' can be treated by a suturer using thread and cloth. The wound will continue to bleed until sutured, severe wounds impair grasping during healing. Closed wounds will be dressed by a wound dresser.  Caused by [[attack_types#Edged_weapons|slashing]] injuries.
 
*'''Skin and muscle''' can be treated by a suturer using thread and cloth. The wound will continue to bleed until sutured, severe wounds impair grasping during healing. Closed wounds will be dressed by a wound dresser.  Caused by [[attack_types#Edged_weapons|slashing]] injuries.
 
*'''Internal Organs''' can be treated or removed by a surgeon using tables and traction benches. Repair of infected or rotten wounds is treated similarly. Caused by [[attack_types#Piercing_weapons|piercing]] injuries.
 
*'''Internal Organs''' can be treated or removed by a surgeon using tables and traction benches. Repair of infected or rotten wounds is treated similarly. Caused by [[attack_types#Piercing_weapons|piercing]] injuries.
Line 67: Line 64:
 
A '''traction bench''' is used by a [[doctor]] in a [[Hospital|hospital zone]] to immobilize a dwarf that has sustained complex or overlapping fractures.
 
A '''traction bench''' is used by a [[doctor]] in a [[Hospital|hospital zone]] to immobilize a dwarf that has sustained complex or overlapping fractures.
  
−
It is constructed in the [[Mechanic's workshop]], and requires a [[table]], a [[mechanism]], and a [[rope]] or a [[chain]] to construct. The [[quality]] of each component is not reflected in the quality of the traction bench, and only the [[material]] of the table is used as the material for the bench. "Recycling" low-quality, low-value components into high-quality traction benches can provide a modest increase in [[value]]. Note that if any [[Stockpile|stockpiles]] have been linked to "Give" to the workshop, all of the resources needed to construct the traction bench must be found in the linked piles (e.g., linking only a stone stockpile may prevent access to the necessary tables/ropes/chains).
+
It is constructed in the [[Mechanic's workshop]], and requires a [[table]], a [[mechanism]], and a [[rope]] or a [[chain]] to construct. Note that if any [[Stockpile|stockpiles]] have been linked to "Give" to the workshop, all of the resources needed to construct the traction bench must be found in the linked piles (e.g., linking only a stone stockpile may prevent access to the necessary tables/ropes/chains).
−
 
 
−
Currently there is a bug that may prevent fully healed dwarves from ever leaving the traction bench. {{bug|4470}} Removing the traction bench will free the dwarf.  
 
  
−
Do not be hasty in removing a presumably-stuck dwarf from traction, however. Such treatment takes weeks or months to succeed and removing the dwarf prematurely will undo all the progress that has been made. If the dwarf has been in traction without being diagnosed or otherwise treated for a month and the health screen shows no scheduled treatment, they probably were forgotten and need the traction bench deconstructed to release them. Another possible way to check if a dwarf is stuck is by {{k|v}}iewing the {{k|w}}ounds of the dwarf in question. If the damaged part isn't at red, then the dwarf is stuck.
+
Currently there is a bug that may prevent fully healed dwarves from ever leaving the traction bench. {{bug|4470}} Removing the traction bench will free the dwarf.
  
 
=== Casts ===
 
=== Casts ===
Line 77: Line 72:
 
Casts are made out of [[plaster powder]] and are used to keep broken bones in their proper place until healed. To store it in a hospital, build a chest or other container inside the hospital zone. Applying a cast also requires a bucket and cloth, and a water source.
 
Casts are made out of [[plaster powder]] and are used to keep broken bones in their proper place until healed. To store it in a hospital, build a chest or other container inside the hospital zone. Applying a cast also requires a bucket and cloth, and a water source.
  
−
Plaster powder is produced at a [[kiln]] or [[magma kiln]] from [[gypsum]], [[alabaster]], [[selenite]], or [[satinspar]] and an empty [[bag]] by a dwarf with the furnace operator skill enabled.  They can also be bought at embark for 3 points per unit; each unit comes with a free [[bag]].
+
Plaster powder is produced at a [[kiln]] or [[magma kiln]] from [[gypsum]], [[alabaster]], [[selenite]], or [[satinspar]] and an empty [[bag]] by a dwarf with the furnace operator skill enabled.  They can also be bought at embark for 3 points per unit, with each unit coming with a free [[bag]].
  
 
=== Splints ===
 
=== Splints ===
Line 97: Line 92:
 
==Tips for an Effective Hospital==
 
==Tips for an Effective Hospital==
 
* Regularly use ({{k|i}}-{{k|H}}) to examine your hospital stockpile. Ensure your hospital is well-stocked. If you run out of materials regularly, increase the limits.
 
* Regularly use ({{k|i}}-{{k|H}}) to examine your hospital stockpile. Ensure your hospital is well-stocked. If you run out of materials regularly, increase the limits.
−
** Due to a [[#Bugs|bug]], hauling dwarves routinely oversupply hospitals. This can be troublesome in many ways, particularly when all the cloth in the fortress is routed to the hospital, leaving your clothier without clothmaking materials and filling the hospital containers with cloth and thread, which leaves no room for soap. Because of this, ''do not, ever,'' place containers in a hospital zone; instead, designate separate stockpiles nearby for cloth, thread, soap and other hospital implements. Setting those stockpiles to not accept bins or barrels, while space-consuming, can help to visualize the state of hospital stocks and prevent further container-capacity related issues.
+
** Due to an annoying years-old bug, hauling dwarves routinely oversupply hospitals. This can be troublesome in many ways, particularly when all the cloth in the fortress is routed to the hospital, leaving your clothier without clothmaking materials and filling the hospital containers with cloth and thread, which leaves no room for soap. Because of this, ''do not, ever,'' place containers in a hospital zone; instead, designate separate stockpiles nearby for cloth, thread, soap and other hospital implements. Setting those stockpiles to not accept bins or barrels, while space-consuming, can help to visualize the state of hospital stocks and prevent further container-capacity related issues.
 
**A workaround is to set cloth and thread to 0, add one container which will be filled by other items, and then set the cloth and thread to 1 unit. The hospital will only claim as much cloth and thread as will fit into the container after accounting for the other items.
 
**A workaround is to set cloth and thread to 0, add one container which will be filled by other items, and then set the cloth and thread to 1 unit. The hospital will only claim as much cloth and thread as will fit into the container after accounting for the other items.
 
**Another workaround is to disable hauling for all but one dwarf, since the oversupply problem is caused by the hospital calling all hauling dwarves for a unit of cloth or thread, and all dwarves responding at once, resulting in a unit of cloth or thread for every available dwarf.
 
**Another workaround is to disable hauling for all but one dwarf, since the oversupply problem is caused by the hospital calling all hauling dwarves for a unit of cloth or thread, and all dwarves responding at once, resulting in a unit of cloth or thread for every available dwarf.
−
**A third workaround is to allow your dwarves to fill up the containers however they want, then use {{k|t}} to examine the contents of the containers and {{k|d}}ump the items that you need to reclaim for other uses.  Remember to reclaim the items after they have been dumped.
 
−
**Another workaround is to forbid all cloth, thread, soap, etc. except for the amount that you want to move to the hospital. Once all of the Store Item in Hospital jobs are done, it is safe to unforbid everything again.
 
 
** It is safe to set the hospital stocks for everything but soap to 0 and then build a container. Soap in the hospital zone is reserved for hospital use and will not be used up by bathing dwarves as stockpiled soap can be.
 
** It is safe to set the hospital stocks for everything but soap to 0 and then build a container. Soap in the hospital zone is reserved for hospital use and will not be used up by bathing dwarves as stockpiled soap can be.
 
* It is possible to do without soap in the hospital stockpile. Choosing to do so, however, increases the risk of infection, which most likely will kill your dwarf. Consult the [[soap]] page to understand that industry. Bring 1 lye on embark for one bar of soap, which translates to 150 units.
 
* It is possible to do without soap in the hospital stockpile. Choosing to do so, however, increases the risk of infection, which most likely will kill your dwarf. Consult the [[soap]] page to understand that industry. Bring 1 lye on embark for one bar of soap, which translates to 150 units.
 
* Put a well inside the hospital for maximum efficiency. Doctors need to wash regularly, and clean water reduces infection.
 
* Put a well inside the hospital for maximum efficiency. Doctors need to wash regularly, and clean water reduces infection.
 
* Do not place chairs next to your surgery tables. A chair is an invitation for rat-roast eating freeloaders to block the medical process.
 
* Do not place chairs next to your surgery tables. A chair is an invitation for rat-roast eating freeloaders to block the medical process.
−
* Consider making use of [[burrow]]s to ensure your healthcare workers stay in the area.  
+
* Consider making use of burrows to ensure your healthcare workers stay in the area.  
 
* You may wish to consider individual rooms for each bed if you find your doctors are choosing to treat Urist McScratched over Urist McBloodFountainTheGushing. A locked door minimizes the mess and thereby infection and allows you to prioritize.
 
* You may wish to consider individual rooms for each bed if you find your doctors are choosing to treat Urist McScratched over Urist McBloodFountainTheGushing. A locked door minimizes the mess and thereby infection and allows you to prioritize.
−
* The Chief Medical Dwarf only enables the Health status screen. The position has no in-game use. Look after your CMDs if you rely heavily on this screen, but otherwise they can be treated as any other dwarf.
+
* The Chief Medical Dwarf only enables the Health status screen, so long as the CMD's Diagnosis skill is Novice or greater. The position has no in-game use. Look after your CMDs if you don't have many dwarves with that level of diagnostic skill, but otherwise they can be treated as any other dwarf.
−
** Diagnosis skill level does not affect the diagnosis, only the time it takes for the diagnosis to happen.  Embarking with a dwarf skilled in diagnosis (and other medical skills) is helpful, both to speed diagnosis and to stave off skill rust when long periods of time go between injuries.
+
** Diagnosis skill level does not affect the diagnosis, only the time it takes for the diagnosis to happen.  Embarking with a dwarf skilled diagnosis (and other medical skills) is helpful, both to speed diagnosis and to stave off skill rust when long periods of time go between injuries.
 
** Also helpful is enabling medical skills on all dwarves in the fortress, which allows medical jobs to be picked up immediately so long as there is an idle dwarf.
 
** Also helpful is enabling medical skills on all dwarves in the fortress, which allows medical jobs to be picked up immediately so long as there is an idle dwarf.
 
* Create "nurses" by setting dwarves to only use the Recover Wounded, Bring Food and Water labors.  
 
* Create "nurses" by setting dwarves to only use the Recover Wounded, Bring Food and Water labors.  
−
** It is important not to distract doctors from treating patients (or other medical helpers such as crutch haulers, or wounded recoverers).
+
** It is important not to distract doctors from treating patients.  
−
** "Recover wounded", "Give food" and "Give water" are low priority jobs, so it is entirely possible for a patient to starve to death, dehydrate to death, or bleed to death if no one ever gets "unbusy" enough to bring them food, water, or move them to the hospital.
+
** "Recover wounded", "Give food" and "Give water" are low priority jobs, so it is entirely possible for a patient to starve to death if no one ever gets "unbusy" enough to bring them food.  
 
** Similarly, it is important not to put your doctors at risk by recovering wounded in the middle of a battle—if they become injured, they cannot treat themselves.
 
** Similarly, it is important not to put your doctors at risk by recovering wounded in the middle of a battle—if they become injured, they cannot treat themselves.
 
* You can select nurses who enjoy helping people to give them good thoughts. This also prevents dwarves that hate bringing others food from receiving unhappy thoughts.
 
* You can select nurses who enjoy helping people to give them good thoughts. This also prevents dwarves that hate bringing others food from receiving unhappy thoughts.
−
* When a serious injury happens, don't exit (or save) the game until the injured are in the hospital zone, especially if a dwarf is immobile.  "Bring crutch" and "Recover Wounded" jobs will be lost, keeping the patient away from the hospital, and doctors will NOT go to patients, even if burrowed with them, because a diagnose job hasn't been created.  Sometimes a second "crutch required" or "recover wounded" request will be generated, but often too late for the patient's full recovery.  Best bet is ensure someone (not burrowed) has "recover wounded" enabled at all times; burrow doctors doing non-medical tasks immediately; hope the patient makes it to the hospital.
 
  
−
Dwarves will prefer to store and use the most expensive thread and cloth. Yes, that includes special "[[raw adamantine|exotic]]" strands.  You may want to forbid these during medical emergencies.
+
Dwarves will prefer to store and use the most expensive thread and cloth. Yes, that includes special "[[raw adamantine|exotic]]" strands.
  
 
==Bugs==
 
==Bugs==
Line 125: Line 117:
 
* Dwarves will steal items from the caravan and store them in hospital. {{Bug|66}}
 
* Dwarves will steal items from the caravan and store them in hospital. {{Bug|66}}
 
* For a variety of reasons, an injured dwarf may leave the hospital and/or refuse to go to the hospital. {{Bug|309}}
 
* For a variety of reasons, an injured dwarf may leave the hospital and/or refuse to go to the hospital. {{Bug|309}}
−
* Injured nails won't heal, leading to eventual infection and death. {{Bug|3756}}
+
* Injured nails can't be fixed by doctors, leading to eventual infection and death. {{Bug|3756}}
 
* Adamantine thread used for suturing. {{Bug|1346}}
 
* Adamantine thread used for suturing. {{Bug|1346}}
 
* Wounded [[justice|criminals]] don't get sent to the hospital. {{Bug|3901}}
 
* Wounded [[justice|criminals]] don't get sent to the hospital. {{Bug|3901}}

Please note that all contributions to Dwarf Fortress Wiki are considered to be released under the GFDL & MIT (see Dwarf Fortress Wiki:Copyrights for details). If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource. Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

To protect the wiki against automated edit spam, we kindly ask you to solve the following CAPTCHA:

Cancel Editing help (opens in new window)

Templates used on this page:

This page is a member of 1 hidden category:

Retrieved from "https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/v0.34:Health_care"