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Military Health and Health Care

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As a large employer 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 health care for everything from general health and well-being to specialized clinical care for deployment related injuries such as amputations, chemically induced illnesses, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Combining its expertise in health and defense policy, RAND examines policy issues surrounding military medical care needs and the systems intended to meet them.

Journal Article

Quality of Care in VA Health System Compares Well to Other Health Settings

Jul 18, 2016

The Veterans Affairs health care system generally performs better than or similar to other health care systems on providing safe and effective care to patients, with some exceptions.
Report

What Is the Quality of Mental Health Care in the Military?

Aug 7, 2017

The care provided by the Military Health System (MHS) is critical to maintaining a physically and psychologically healthy, mission-ready force. When it comes to PTSD and depression, the MHS demonstrates excellent care in some areas but could focus its efforts better in others.

Explore Military Health and Health Care

Report

Report

Delivering Clinical Practice Guideline–Concordant Care for PTSD and Major Depression in Military Treatment Facilities

This report describes the psychological health workforce at military treatment facilities, examines the extent to which care is consistent with clinical practice guidelines, and identifies facilitators and barriers to providing this care.

Aug 14, 2017
Infographic

Infographic

Military Mental Health Care: Provider Perspectives on Treating PTSD and Depression

This infographic describes data on various aspects of the Military Health System capacity to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

Aug 14, 2017
News Release

News Release

More Than 80% of Military Health Facilities Now Offer Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments

More than 80 percent of military health care facilities offer some form of complementary and alternative medicine—in addition to conventional medicine— mainly for pain management and psychological disorders.

Aug 9, 2017
Report

More Than 80% of Military Health Facilities Provide Complementary and Alternative Medicine

In addition to conventional medicine, 83 percent of military health care facilities offer therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic, stress management, yoga, biofeedback, and massage for pain management and psychological disorders.

Aug 9, 2017
Research Brief

Research Brief

Supporting Readiness: Assessing and Improving the Quality of Care for Service Members with PTSD and Depression

Describes various aspects of assessing and improving the quality of care for service members with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

Aug 7, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Deployment Length, Inflammatory Markers, and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Military Couples

Longer deployments are associated with changes in a range of health-related markers in military veterans as well as their spouses.

Aug 4, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Insomnia Severity as a Mediator of the Association Between Mental Health Symptoms and Alcohol Use in Young Adult Veterans

Insomnia severity accounts in part for the impact of symptoms of depression and PTSD on alcohol use in young adult veterans.

Aug 3, 2017
Commentary

Military Power Is All About People: A Return to Personnel Policy

Ensuring the strength of U.S. armed forces is critical to U.S. national security and the key source of strength is its people. True investment in personnel is a long-term legacy and an investment worthy of attention and policy debate to ensure the United States continues to recruit and retain the most effective fighting force in the world.

Jul 27, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

The Association Between Discharge Status, Mental Health, and Substance Misuse Among Young Adult Veterans

Veterans who received General and Other Than Honorable discharges were significantly more likely to screen positive for generalized anxiety disorder, depression, PTSD, and hazardous alcohol use than those who received an Honorable discharge.

Jul 26, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

The Impact of Normative Perceptions on Alcohol Consumption in Military Veterans

The attitudes of military personnel about drinking predict their future drinking behaviors and may be key to understanding the relationship between normative perceptions about drinking and drinking behaviors.

Jul 14, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

High Healthcare Utilization Near the Onset of Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Veterans who had a new onset of medically unexplained symptoms used healthcare at the same level as patients with chronic physical symptoms.

Jul 14, 2017
Multimedia

Creating Better Support for Our Nation's Hidden Heroes

An overview of the testimony presented by Terri Tanielian before the Senate Special Committee on Aging on June 14, 2017.

Jun 14, 2017
Testimony

Creating Better Support for Military and Veteran Caregivers

Caregivers who provide unpaid, informal support to current and former U.S. service members are a key part of America's care for returning warriors. A new research blueprint could help improve support for these "hidden heroes."

Jun 14, 2017
Research Brief

Improving Support for America's Hidden Heroes: A Military Caregiver Research Blueprint

In this brief, RAND researchers document the construction and elements of a research blueprint to inform future efforts to improve support for military and veteran caregivers.

Jun 14, 2017
Report

Improving Support for Military and Veteran Caregivers: A Research Blueprint

Millions of Americans provide informal care and support to current and former U.S. service members. A new research blueprint could help inform efforts to improve support for these “hidden heroes.”

Jun 14, 2017
Project

Providing Medical Support to Light Footprint Operations

Researchers are working to identify options for providing effective medical support to Light Footprint Operations and will define the technology, resources, and skill sets necessary to achieve an appropriate level of support.

Jun 9, 2017
Report

Report

Medical Support to Light Footprint Operations: Why smaller operations require a different approach to medical support

Traditional military medical support is designed for larger formations and draws on a heavier supporting infrastructure. Recent EU operations have a smaller number of personnel, shorter duration and seek to have a lighter infrastructure footprint.

Jun 9, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Identifying Policy Implications and Future Research Directions Regarding Military Community Support and Child Psychosocial Adjustment

Efforts to organize and consolidate the wide range of support services designed to bolster resilience in military families could enhance service members' mission readiness.

Jun 7, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Provision of Peer Specialist Services in VA Patient Aligned Care Teams: Protocol for Testing a Cluster Randomized Implementation Trial

Assessing the impact of outside assistance on the deployment of peer specialists in Veterans Health Administration Patient Aligned Care Teams will provide critical data to administrators and policy makers.

Jun 7, 2017

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RAND Topic:
Military Health and Health Care

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