DHA stands up first four health care markets | Health.mil

health dot mil banner image

DHA stands up first four health care markets

By standardizing care and administrative functions within military medical facilities, DoD seeks to create a more medically ready force; one that provides safe, high-quality health care to service members, their families, and retirees and ensures the readiness of medical personnel who provide that care. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jacob Sippel)

The Defense Health Agency is changing the way military hospitals and clinics are managed Jan. 30 when facilities in four regions within the United States will become the first military medical markets aligned by geographic location. The new markets include hospitals and clinics in the National Capital Region (Washington, D.C., southern Maryland, and northern Virginia), Jacksonville, Florida; the Mississippi coast (Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula); and Central North Carolina (Fayetteville). Each market will share patients, staff, budgets, and many other functions across facilities to optimize readiness and the delivery and coordination of health services.

DHA will eventually establish 21 markets where DoD has large concentrations of facilities and patients. Markets will be centered on large medical centers, establishing centers of excellence for specialty care that meet the needs of beneficiaries across their regions.

Under this system, market leaders will now be responsible for managing all health care delivery within their geographic region. By standardizing care and administrative functions within military medical facilities, DoD seeks to create a more medically ready force; one that provides safe, high-quality health care to service members and their families and ensures the readiness of medical personnel who provide that care.

The Defense Health Agency will eventually establish 21 markets where DoD has concentrations of medical facilities and patients. Markets will be centered on large medical centers, establishing centers of excellence for specialty care that meet the needs of beneficiaries across their regions.

Alignment by market will allow hospitals and clinics to be more effective by eliminating duplicative processes and streamlining management functions. Market leaders will continue working with managed care support contractors and community partners, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the private sector.

This effort is driven by Section 702 of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (FY17 NDAA) and subsequent guidance provided by Congress in 2018, 2019, and 2020 that directed the Military Health System to reorganize, redefining the roles of the military departments and DHA in the administration and management of hospitals and clinics. The military departments are working to transition administrative responsibility of all hospitals and clinics to DHA by September 2021.

As the single agency in charge of medical facilities in the four initial markets, DHA will create a more integrated, efficient, and effective system of medical readiness and health care delivery. That system will spread across additional military treatment facilities when DHA stands up new market offices this year.

Learn more about the MHS transformation to a market-based system.

Army Medicine senior leaders meet to map out medical transformation

Article

1/31/2020

Key leaders at the Army Medicine Senior Leader Forum watch Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, Army Surgeon General, at podium during the Army Medicine Senior Leaders Forum on Jan. 28, 2020, to discuss issues related to the transformation of Army Medicine and how to manage the way ahead to ensure optimal medical readiness for soldiers and all military medical beneficiaries. Attendees include the Director of the Defense Health Agency, Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Place (left foreground), and Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) Thomas McCaffery (center foreground). The forum was held at Fort Belvoir and involved about 350 leaders. (U.S. Army photo by Jenie Fisher)

Since World War II, of 18 studies on the military health services, almost all recommended consolidating the three into a single health care organization

Recommended Content:

MHS Transformation

Army, FDA discuss 3D printing at workshop

Article

1/21/2020

When a medical device breaks down on a medical unit deployed to a remote part of the world, the closest repair parts could be thousands of miles away (U.S. Army photo by Francis S. Trachta)

Army medical logisticians are looking to 3D printing as a potential solution to this challenge

Recommended Content:

Military Hospitals and Clinics | Technology | Combat Support | Medical Logistics

MHS Minute January 2020

Video

1/21/2020

Thanks for tuning in to the *NEW* MHS Minute! Check back each month to learn about more exciting events and achievements by organizations and partners across the Military Health System!

Recommended Content:

MHS Transformation | TRICARE Health Program

Transition spotlight: Air Force Medical Service, part 2

Article

1/16/2020

Air Force Maj. Nicole Ward (left) and Air Force Capt. Matthew Muncey, program managers with the Air Force Medical Service Transition Cell, pose for a photo at the Defense Health Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Mahler)

Two officers speak about standing up DHA’s new capabilities to manage MTFs, ensuring the process is as smooth as possible for personnel and patients

Recommended Content:

MHS Transformation

DHA director visits Colorado, discusses medical transition

Article

1/15/2020

Defense Health Agency Director Lt. Gen. Ronald Place speaks to Evans Army Community Hospital leaders at BK George Hall about the Military Health System transformation. Place visited military medical teams at Peterson Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force Academy and Buckley Air Force Base, which also encompass the Colorado Springs Military Health System. (Photo by Jeanine Mezei)

Colorado Springs currently exists in an enhanced multi-service market

Recommended Content:

MHS Transformation

Transition spotlight: Air Force Medical Service

Article

1/13/2020

Air Force Maj. Nicole Ward, left, and Capt. Matthew Muncey, program managers with the Air Force Medical Service Transition Cell, at the Defense Health Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia, Jan. 9, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Mahler)

Two Airmen deeply are involved with the process of standing up DHA’s new capabilities to manage MTFs

Recommended Content:

MHS Transformation

U.S. Transportation Command: DoD’s manager for global patient movement

Article

1/9/2020

An ambulance bus backs up to the Mississippi Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III as Airmen prepare to unload patients at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The bus transports the ill and/or injured to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. JBA and Travis Air Force Base, California, serve as the primary military entry points or hubs for patient distribution within the continental United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karina Luis)

On a weekly basis, USTRANSCOM moves up to 40 patients from overseas to CONUS

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness | Military Hospitals and Clinics

Navy Medicine demonstrates Virtual Health options to Africa

Article

1/6/2020

Air Force Staff Sgt. Danny Lim practices conducting a throat examination on Army Sgt. Harvey Drayton at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti. Drayton and Lim were introduced to the Telehealth In A Bag system during a recent visit that included personnel from Regional Health Command Europe's virtual health team. (U.S. Army photo by Russell Toof)

Djibouti hosts the largest U.S. American military base on the African continent

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness | Military Hospitals and Clinics

Achievements in 2019 provide strong foundation for year ahead

Article

12/23/2019

A Year in Review: Year of Military Health 2019

Dedication, commitment to mission praised as changes continue

Recommended Content:

TRICARE Health Program | MHS GENESIS | Research and Innovation | Preventive Health | MHS Transformation

DHA PI 6025.10: Change 1: Standard Processes, Guidelines, and Responsibilities of the DoD Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities in the Military Health System (MHS) Military Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs)

Policy

This Defense Health Agency-Procedural Instruction (DHA-PI), based on the authority of References (a) through (d), and in accordance with the guidance of References (e) through (t), establishes the Defense Health Agency’s (DHA) procedures to begin standard processes and guidelines for the Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, Reference (e)), in MTFs.

Identification #: DHA PI 6025.10
Date: 12/20/2019
Type: DHA Procedural Instruction
Topics: Military Hospitals and Clinics