Defense Health Agency

About: Defense Health Agency is a government organization based out in Falls Church, Virginia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Health care & Population. The organization has 295 authors who have published 350 publications receiving 3062 citations.

ArtiFacts: Austin Moore’s Hip

Abstract: 1Collections Manager, Historical Collections, National Museum of Health and Medicine, Defense Health Agency, Silver Spring, MD, USA Alan J. Hawk ✉, National Museum of Health and Medicine Defense Health Agency, 2460 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA, Email: [email protected] A note from the Editor-in-Chief: We are pleased to present the next installment of “ArtiFacts.” In each column, the Collections Manager of the Historical Collections Division of the National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM) will present a photograph of a visually or historically interesting artifact from the museum’s collection and provide the story behind the picture. The NMHM, whose collection was recognized as a National Historic Landmark, was originally developed from the Army Medical Museum established during the Civil War to collect “specimens of morbid anatomy together with projectiles and foreign bodies removed.” Its mission today is to inspire interest in, and promote the understanding of, medicine to the public. The author certifies that there are no funding or commercial associations (consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article related to the author or any immediate family members. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, and do not reflect the opinion or policy of CORR® or The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons®. The opinions or assertions herein are those of the author and do not represent the views of the Defense Health Agency or of the Department of Defense.

Modeling the Budgetary Impact of Payer Utilization Management Strategies: An Adapted Framework Based on Lessons Learned.

Abstract: SUMMARY: Historically, budget impact models have been used to demonstrate how a new drug or technology entering the market could influence payer budgets, with the hope of influencing coverage of th...

Identifying Best Practices in Pharmacy Experience: An Analysis of Military Treatment Facilities With the Highest Pharmacy Patient Experience Scores.

Abstract: Introduction Pharmacy patient experience within military treatment facilities (MTFs) is a significant indicator of healthcare quality, as hospital admissions correlate with medication use (Budnitz et al., 2006) and pharmacists have a unique opportunity to influence patients' health (Dalton & Byrne, 2017). To improve patient care across the military health system (MHS), we investigated best practices within MTF pharmacies with the highest patient experience scores. Materials and methods Researchers performed semi-structured telephone interviews with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and patient experience officers from three of the highest ranked MTF pharmacies according to outpatient satisfaction survey results to glean "best practice" approaches to patient care. Researchers utilized the Gioia approach as a guiding theory for qualitative analysis of the interview data, and the study was excluded from a requirement to obtain institutional review board approval due to the number of respondents in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 guidelines. Results Interview participants from highly rated pharmacies emphasized the importance of communication among and between staff and patients, staff engagement and morale, and supportive leadership at their facilities for creating a positive patient experience and clinical environment. Conclusion These findings provide valuable insights to improve public health in military-connected populations through improved patient care practices in pharmacies across the MHS. Initiatives aimed at improving health care for pharmacy patients should prioritize improved communication and structural support for team members to create patient-friendly environments, which enables pharmacists and technicians to connect with patients and positively impact health outcomes. Limitations include lack of comparison data for lower performing pharmacies; future research will explore practices at lower ranking pharmacies to provide insights into communication practices, environments, and staff relationships impacting patient experience scores as well as the role patient demographics (e.g., retirees vs. active duty) and characteristics including facility size play in potential improvements.

After COVID-19: Improving the Patient's Outpatient Appointment Experience

Abstract: As the COVID-19 pandemic diminishes, it is expected that patients will seek more outpatient appointments resulting in adverse patient and clinic experiences if there is a corresponding increase in ...