domingo, 25 de febrero de 2018

Health care of the future: Virtual doctor-patient visits a reality at NCR | Health.mil

Health care of the future: Virtual doctor-patient visits a reality at NCR | Health.mil

Health.mil

Health care of the future: Virtual doctor-patient visits a reality at NCR

In a demonstration of the telehealth process at Fort Campbell’s Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, clinical staff nurse Army Lt. Maxx Mamula examines mock patient Army Master Sgt. Jason Alexander using a digital external ocular camera. The image is immediately available to a provider at Fort Gordon’s Eisenhower Medical Center, offering remote consultation. (U.S. Army photo by David E. Gillespie)

In a demonstration of the telehealth process at Fort Campbell’s Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, clinical staff nurse Army Lt. Maxx Mamula examines mock patient Army Master Sgt. Jason Alexander using a digital external ocular camera. The image is immediately available to a provider at Fort Gordon’s Eisenhower Medical Center, offering remote consultation. (U.S. Army photo by David E. Gillespie)



FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Technology has helped people from every corner of the world connect with friends, family, and colleagues – and, soon, technology will connect physicians and patients in the Military Health System. The once far-fetched concept of virtual health care may soon become reality in military medicine as experts help the Military Health System transform its offerings to connect doctors and patients in remote locations through a secure medium.
“We can’t afford not to think about this today,” said Dr. Christine Bruzek-Kohler, director of clinical operations at National Capital Region Medical Directorate, also known as NCR. The NCR is one of six regional, multi-service health care markets across the country and a leader in the pursuit of virtual health services in the MHS. “It’s time to get health care out to beneficiaries in ways we’ve never done before,” Said Bruzek-Kohler.
Military Health System leaders devoted a day to the future of telehealth services in a gathering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for the Virtual Health Summit on Jan. 30. Participants learned about current virtual health capabilities at military treatment facilities in the NCR and explored ideas to help MHS meet new requirements outlined in a Congressional mandate due Oct. 1. According to the National Defense Authorization Act, section 718 requires the enhancement of telehealth services use within the Military Health System.
What does this mean for beneficiaries?
The term telehealth, also referred to as virtual health within the MHS, includes secure messaging between providers and beneficiaries and appointment scheduling. It allows providers to complete actions through videoconference, phone, tablet, or home monitoring devices. These actions include assessing and evaluating diseases and symptoms, diagnosing disease, supervising treatment, and monitoring health outcomes.
Providers and patients will be able to connect without an in-person visit for primary and specialty care. Providers will also be able to connect with one another for consultation and share medical information. Restrictions, which are being worked out as the MHS maps its virtual course, will apply.
How the MHS will satisfy these new requirements was the primary focus of the summit, but not its only goal. Dr. Bruzek-Kohler challenged participants to think beyond the basics.
“Don’t be limited – be creative and think about what virtual health should be for our patients,” said Bruzek-Kohler. “We are here to change the direction of health care delivery for our beneficiaries.”
Dr. Jamie Adler, lead of the MHS Virtual Health Strategic Plan and Connected Health Office for the Defense Health Agency, called virtual health a ‘positively disruptive’ force within the enterprise. He discussed some of the unique challenges that have come up during the process, such as low provider adoption, technical platform interoperability issues, and differing policies, practices, workflows, and metrics. Other challenges include training variances and the lack of budget planning for virtual health, he said. Some of these issues are similar to those in civilian health care, while others are unique to the military.
“We have certain security issues to deal with,” said Adler, adding that he’s looking for solutions that would be translatable down range. “We want to train how we fight. This is part of our unique experience developing an enterprise solution.” 
Navy Commander Melissa Austin, director of Clinical Support Services at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, said her team was able to get the task done because IT became willing partners.
“We found a gap in the system that allowed us to do this,” said Austin. “We went through trials, errors, and we make a lot of tradeoffs.”
At WRNMMC, 16 clinics currently provide a mix of telehealth services. In February, seven new clinics will start offering telehealth, including child psychology – a service in high demand.
Dr. Thomas Handler, research vice president at Gartner, said the foundation is forming for virtual health in the MHS. The work ahead will not only involve changes in process, technology, and policy, but also fundamental shifts in how leaders and providers think about health care, he added.
“At MHS, we are rewarded for being in the room with a patient versus being rewarded for doing something for a patient,” said Handler. “Virtual health requires a mindset change.”
Handler said the MHS needs to look far ahead in the future and take a shot as the vision, whether or not it seems like a longshot, is divided into incremental pieces. Beneficiaries can expect to hear about developments in the coming months as the system finalizes the course to its virtual future.
Beneficiaries interested in learning about current telehealth or virtual health care options are encouraged to speak with their providers. Patients can also inquire about these services while scheduling follow-up appointments with the NCR Appointment Line, available at (855) 227-6331.


Air Force robotic surgery training program aims at improving patient outcomes

Article
2/9/2018
Air Force Col. Debra Lovette (left), 81st Training Wing commander, receives a briefing from Air Force 2nd Lt. Nina Hoskins, 81st Surgical Operations squadron room nurse, on robotics surgery capabilities inside the robotics surgery clinic at Keesler Medical Center, Mississippi. The training program stood up in March 2017 and has trained surgical teams within the Air Force and across the Department of the Defense. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue).
Robotic surgery is becoming the standard of care for many specialties and procedures
Recommended Content:
Technology | Innovation | Military Hospitals and Clinics

Robot dog improves SOF medical practices

Article
1/10/2018
A multi-purpose canine handler with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, controls a laceration on a realistic canine mannequin during MPC medical training. During this training, MPC handlers practice applying canine medical aid on the new “robot dog” for the first time, which is in its final stages of testing and development. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bryann K Whitley)
The development of the new “robot dog” came from SOCOM’s desire to improve the current medical training capabilities
Recommended Content:
Technology | Veterinary Service

Survey indicates higher satisfaction with military medical facilities

Article
1/8/2018
Staff at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington, treat patients. The 2017 results of the Defense Department’s Joint Outpatient Experience Survey show an increase in patient satisfaction with military medical facilities and pharmacy care. (U.S. Army photo)
The results of the survey show an overall increase in satisfaction
Recommended Content:
Military Hospitals and Clinics | Access to Health Care | MHS Patient Satisfaction Surveys | MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients)

TRICARE Philippine demonstration ends, new preferred-provider network begins

Article
1/3/2018
Official TRICARE logo
Beginning Jan. 1, 2018, a preferred-provider network will be available in the Philippines.
Recommended Content:
TRICARE Health Program | Access to Health Care

Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support (DMLSS)

Fact Sheet
12/19/2017
DMLSS delivers an automated and integrated information system with a comprehensive range of medical materiel, equipment, war reserve materiel and facilities management functions.
Recommended Content:
Medical Logistics | Technology

Joint Medical Asset Repository (JMAR)

Fact Sheet
12/19/2017
JMAR provides 24/7 access to medical asset information for users, on any computer
Recommended Content:
Medical Logistics | Technology

Theater Enterprise-Wide Logistics Systems (TEWLS)

Fact Sheet
12/19/2017
TEWLS consolidates numerous military logistics functions into a single application and database.
Recommended Content:
Medical Logistics | Technology

Elective surgeries hone surgical skills, prepare medical team for combat

Article
12/7/2017
Inside Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center’s second floor surgery suite, surgeons and medical teams are busy honing their critical-care skills. Regardless of procedure or patient, every incision is an exercise in mission readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Marcy Sanchez)
Regardless of procedure or patient, every incision is an exercise in mission readiness
Recommended Content:
Military Hospitals and Clinics | Health Readiness

Doctors use cutting-edge research at Navy hospital

Article
12/6/2017
Chad Rodarmer, traumatic brain injury clinic program manager, demonstrates tracking a patient's eye movement at Naval Medical Center San Diego, California. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom)
The Navy is developing and using cutting-edge research to better help service members, their family members and retirees
Recommended Content:
Technology | Warrior Care | Traumatic Brain Injury

Care Loop

Video
11/29/2017
Care Loop
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mariana Carrano’s business is patient care. She’s one of four Air Force liaison officers with the 86th Medical Squadron at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, a short drive from Ramstein AB. As an LO, as they are often called, Carrano is responsible for taking care of a patient throughout the entire care loop – from the moment he ...
Recommended Content:
Access to Health Care | Warrior Care

WBAMC pharmacist catches serious drug interaction

Article
11/27/2017
Dr. Anna Jewula, pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, is recognized for her attentiveness in assisting a patient with a prescription order that contraindicated a previous prescription medication, avoiding a potentially serious drug interaction detrimental to the patient’s health (U.S. Army photo Marcy Sanchez)
Thanks to a pharmacist’s careful eye, one patient avoided a potentially deadly drug interaction
Recommended Content:
Military Hospitals and Clinics | TRICARE Pharmacy Program

Trauma chief praises medical response to Sutherland Springs shooting

Article
11/16/2017
As a Level I trauma center, Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, received patients from the Nov. 5, 2017, mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas. (U.S. Army file photo)
BAMC received eight victims – six adults and two minors – from the Nov. 5 mass shooting in the small community church in Sutherland Springs
Recommended Content:
Civil Military Medicine | Civil Support | Military Hospitals and Clinics | San Antonio

Burn Center offers new pain management approach for patients

Article
11/8/2017
Pain medication is managed with the placement of an intrathecal catheter exactly like an epidural catheter used for laboring women, except that the catheter resides in the intrathecal space where the cerebrospinal fluid resides instead of the epidural space. (Courtesy photo)
The pain medication is managed with the placement of an intrathecal catheter and infusion of preservative-free morphine
Recommended Content:
Military Hospitals and Clinics

We have the technology: 3-D printing takes wounded warriors to a new dimension

Article
11/2/2017
Peter Liacouras is director of the 3-D Medical Applications Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Center at Walter Reed designs, produces custom-made items
Recommended Content:
Technology | Warrior Care

Online patient portal saves time, improves access to medical information

Article
10/30/2017
The TRICARE Online Patient Portal connects registered users with online health care information and services at military hospitals and clinics.
Patients who can more easily access their own health information using TRICARE Online are more inclined to use the health benefit
Recommended Content:
Military Hospitals and Clinics | TRICARE Health Program | MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients)

No hay comentarios: