Military Healthcare

Paper Summary:

This paper is a literature review to study the relationship between the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD) Military Health System (MHS), and civilian health care providers in the area of policy and utilization of management and information technology tools, which currently are adversely affecting the care of active duty military, their families and veterans. The author concludes that the governmental use of Lean and Six Sigma, specifically in the VA, MHS and DoD programs relating to healthcare provision for service members and beneficiaries has greatly expanded the capacity of these organizations to provide the required healthcare. The paper stresses that the management programs of Lean and Six Sigma offer potentials for cost savings, quality service provision and the elimination of waste in these organizations. Includes figures and tables.

Table of Contents:
Objective
Background of the Study
Statement of Thesis
Purpose of the Study
Literature Review
Department Of Defense (DoD) Task Force: On Future of Military Health Care
Systemic Obstacles Identified
DoD Findings Concerning Pharmacy Benefits and Recommended Tier Structure
Military Health System (MHS) Strategic Plan
DoD and VA Joint Strategic Plan
Military Health Systems Deployment of Electronic Dental Record
Health Information IT Systems Combined by DoD and Military Health System
Lean and Six Sigma to Improve Delivery of Government Services
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In the area of improvement of efficiencies and cost-effectiveness of the military health care procurement system findings relate that that DoD obligations for medical services contracts was $1.6 billion in 1996, and that by the year 2005 this obligation had risen to $8 billion - or an increase of 412 percent. The cause for this growth in spending for service acquisition while is part attributed to recent trends and changes which includes downsizing in the civilian workforce as well as outsourcing and TRICARE benefits expansion along with attempting to meet new requirements as well as new demands."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Jennings, Martin C. (2006) How the Army Should Use Lean Six Sigma as a Transformation Strategy for Logistics in the 21st Century. USAWC Strategy Research Project. 15 Mar 2006.
• An Evolving Charge to the Department of Defense (2007) Military Medicine 172 11:1133 (2007) http://www.siib.org/news/367-SIIB/version/default/part/AttachmentData/data/HPO%20Mil%20Med%202007.pdf
• Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care (2007) Department of Defense. Subcommittee of the Defense Health Board. December 2007.
• The Military Health System Strategic Plan (2007) A Roadmap for Medical Transformation.
• DoD/VA Joint Strategic Plan (2008) DoD/VA Program Coordination. Online available at: http://www.tricare.mil/DVPCO/strategic.cfm

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