Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan, U.S. Navy Surgeon General spells out the need for standardized processes and technology across Navy medicine in an article appearing in Navy and Marine Cops Medical News published by the U.S Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
He wants to see improvement in efficiencies in the way healthcare is conducted in information management, IT, EHR systems, financial and resource management, logistics, and clinical processes.
Today, Navy Medicine personnel are working with systems analysts across the services on the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER). The Navy is also involved in the DOD Health Data Sharing Work Group. The work group is developing a standard DOD policy for sharing family member health data in VLER Health, a multi-faceted business and technology initiative that includes a portfolio of health, benefits, personnel, and administrative information sharing capabilities.
In order for the Navy to keep up with technology, M6 and Navy Medicine Information Systems Support Activity are helping Navy Medicine launch cloud computing and 150 virtualized desktops at various locations throughout the Navy. Virtualized desktops will allow for maintenance efficiencies and cost savings versus the server/hardware that now resides under the desk.
The Navy’s industrial engineers are helping to standardize clinical processes and ensure maximum quality that is patient-centered. As the Navy provides patient-centered care, it is important to standardize occupational and certification exams used every day by Navy Medicine clinical providers and other services.
Standardization of occupation exam procedures is needed to comply with Federal law, higher level directives, and reduce legal liability. Exam standardization will also help to save time, money, and energy.
The Navy has been impressed with the success of the DOD’s theater concussion evaluation and treatment guidelines used to develop the mild Traumatic Brain Injury system to evaluate and treat mTBI and TBI. These algorithms are intended to standardize mTBI care across the Navy from acute management to long term specialized care.
To view the publication, go to www.med.navy.mil/Pages/Default.aspx.