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.
Announcement
To celebrate our first 60 years, we created 60 Ways RAND Has Made a Difference, an online book to illustrate our most notable contributions. On our 65th birthday, we provide five of the most recent ways in which we at RAND are proud to have made a difference.
Report
This history looks at how humanity has cared for its war casualties and veterans, from ancient times through the aftermath of World War II.
Commentary
The act of caring for a veteran takes a physical, mental, and economic toll on caregivers and their families. Giving caregivers the skills and resources they need to cope and thrive should be as much a priority as giving veterans medical care.
News Release
Spouses, family members, and others who provide informal care to U.S. military members after they return home from conflict often toil long hours with little support, putting them at risk for physical, emotional, and financial harm.
Report
Spouses, family members, and others who provide informal care to U.S. military members after they return home from conflict often toil long hours with little support, putting them at risk for physical, emotional, and financial harm.
Journal Article
Patients used kiosks in mental health clinics to provide routine data on clinical status and treatments. The data were used to improve quality of care.
Journal Article
The authors redesigned an electronic clinical reminder to improve identification and management of Veterans at high risk for falls, and piloted the reminder in 3 Veterans Health Administration community-based outpatient clinics.
Report
This paper reviews data on the prevalence of sexual assault among servicemembers, predictors of disclosure, efforts to improve disclosure, victim needs, and DoD efforts to provide necessary resources in the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault.
Blog
Former Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill, a RAND Trustee and Health Advisory Board member, published an open letter to President Obama in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this week in which he asks the president to use his executive power to address the problem of medical errors.
Journal Article
This study examined the mental health treatment experiences of active-duty U.S. service members who received treatment from primary care or specialty mental health providers.
Journal Article
This study explored challenges, facilitators, and progress of Peer Specialist implementation from a stakeholder group involved in their management.
Journal Article
Fee-for-service vs limited-budget worlds. Efficient care isn't necessarily less expensive care.
Report
The not-for-profit Wounded Warrior Project gives injured veterans access to programs to improve their health and economic outcomes. Participants are achieving the goal of not missing work due to physical health problems and have obesity rates proportionate to that of the U.S. population.
Commentary
As the nation struggles to confront the twin challenges of rising healthcare costs and uncertain quality, we should be willing to embrace innovative practices wherever they exist, whether they are developed in private, for-profit health care systems or so-called "socialized" ones, like Britain's NHS or America's VA, writes Art Kellermann.
Journal Article
Homeless veterans are a vulnerable population, with high mortality and morbidity rates. Evidence-based practices for homelessness have been challenging to implement.
Journal Article
Veterans being treated for depression were more likely to become employed, and remain employed when their depression status improved, highlighting the need to prevent socioeconomic deterioration among working-aged veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Blog
Determining the effectiveness of programs designed to reduce the stigma of post-traumatic stress disorder is essential to helping servicemembers seek and receive the care they need.
Report
The military's TRICARE Reserve Select program offers reservists the option of purchasing health insurance through the military on terms that compare favorably with typical employer benefits, but the program does not appear to be effectively targeting those most likely to be uninsured.
Commentary
The numbers of suicides among military personnel is a reminder for us involved in prevention to remain vigilant and work even harder. Let it be a wake-up call to the nation to assume some of the responsibility as well, writes Rajeev Ramchand.
Research Brief
Describes options for Department of Defense policy that would help the reserve components of the U.S. military achieve higher levels of individual medical readiness, including dental readiness.
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