The Hippocrates class was a Federation hospital ship that saw service during the late 24th century. ("Nightingale's Song") The class was designed using available parts during the Second Federation-Klingon War. As heavy battlefield injuries quickly overwhelmed the sickbays of Federation starships, Starfleet quickly constructed twenty Hippocrates-class ships. By the time the order was complete, the war had ended, but the class found new purpose when the Dominion War broke out.