As the largest health care provider in the United States, the Department of Defense faces significant challenges ensuring that all members of the military, as well as their families, receive appropriate care for everything from general health and well-being to amputations, chemically induced illnesses, and post-traumatic stress. Combining its expertise in health and defense policy, RAND examines policy issues surrounding military medical care needs and the systems intended to meet them.
News Release
Children in military families may suffer from more emotional and behavioral difficulties when compared to other American youths, with older children and girls struggling the most when a parent is deployed overseas.
Project
The Department of Defense (DoD) is considering moving toward a more integrated employee health system that includes occupational safety and health for active-duty service members. RAND compiled extensive information about the current system and requisite elements for such integration.
Journal Article
This study found that social marketing, which applies marketing techniques to promote behavioral change, is a promising approach for promoting implementation of evidence-based interventions in integrated healthcare systems.
Research Brief
To maintain relevant medical skills, some military medical personnel stationed at military treatment facilities could be stationed in civilian emergency rooms and trauma centers, where cases more closely resemble those found during deployment.
Research Brief
Evaluates a one-year trial in which two administrative requirements governing the provision of mental health care under TRICARE (the health care system for military personnel) were lifted, focusing on whether this increased access to such care.
Research Brief
Air Force, Army, and Navy training programs for enlisted medical personnel are being consolidated to increase interoperability. A RAND methodology defines standards of practice across services and evaluates options for obtaining qualified personnel.
Research Brief
Identifies barriers to mental health care access for military servicemembers and veterans in community settings.
Report
Discusses the tendencies of Air Force physicians and dentists to accept Multiyear Special Pay.
Journal Article
Despite recent efforts to increase access to appropriate mental health care for veterans returning from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, many challenges remain. These include veterans' reluctance to seek care, insufficient mental health workforce capacity and competency in evidence-based practice, and inadequate systems support for improving care. These broad challenges must be addressed across the Veterans Health Administration, the Department of Defense, and community-based care. Policy reform will require federal leadership to engage health plans, professional organizations, states, and local communities in strategies to improve veterans' access to high-quality services.
Research Brief
Assesses the Department of Defense (DoD) response to three potential anthrax-related incidents at DoD facilities in March 2005 and recommends ways that DoD can improve its incident-response capabilities.
Report
This research, part of a larger project examining the preparation and support of leaders in the medical field, evaluates the need for and feasibility of qualifying health care officers as ''joint'' officers.
Report
A new metric for measuring expeditionary medical support based on the medical STEP rate of each component of the system -- a more accurate measure of capability than the current measure, number of beds.
Journal Article
Examines the effect of multiyear special pay on attrition from the U.S. Air Force medical corps.
Journal Article
Coordination and communication among community partners-including health departments, emergency management agencies, and hospitals-are essential for effective pandemic influenza planning and response. As the nation's largest integrated health care system, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) could be a key component of community planning.
Journal Article
In 2005, the VA created consumer-providers (CPs)--individuals with experience of serious mental illness who support others with similar conditions. Data from the groups suggest that hiring and employing CPs within VA has been feasible, beneficial, and acceptable to most members of clinical teams.
Report
Describes a framework for evaluating the contribution of the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application, DoD's global electronic health record, to the performance of the Military Health System.
Research Brief
This research highlight summarizes an evaluation of the Enrollee Health Care Projection Model's accuracy and validity; identifies potential model enhancements; and assesses the risks posed by the VA's reliance on the model for budgeting and planning.
Report
This evaluation of the Enrollee Health Care Projection Model examines its accuracy and validity, identifies potential model enhancements, and assesses the risks and benefits posed by the VA's reliance on the model for budgeting and planning.
News Release
The U.S. military should reassess its child care system to look for ways to make it better fit the needs of military families and more effectively meet recruitment, readiness and retention goals.
Report
By better managing environmental issues during deployments, U.S. Army units can gain tactical and strategic advantages that will help in combat and post-conflict operations, and boost overall mission success.
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