The Broadcast Edge

Unique opportunities. They appear in all sorts of categories between military health and researchers. Department of Defense (DoD) funded inquiries into a health topic may be met with academic medicine or expert organization partnership. Congressional concerns may mandate scientific analyses. The Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA) may work with the Office of Inspector General or partner federal health agencies for research and analytical support.  Unique opportunities in an anticipated health system should not be so isolated. Experts should not have to recall the studies and professional colleagues that may or may not have insight into some aspects of care. Rather, research opportunities should be developed with blueprints already established for major military and veteran health concerns. These blueprints should be the responsibility of a designated entity. Subsets of excellence and/or task forces already address some health aspects, by a military branch or federal agency. Cente...

Having to do what’s right, more than once, is an opportunity. A major opportunity for healthcare to do right by others is in malpractice reform, and the opportunity is greatest for active duty military members. Malpractice and medical mistakes affect active duty and veteran populations, and the unpredictable trajectory of consequences contributes to suboptimal health. Medical malpractice affects civilian populations too, all over the world. Reform with medical malpractice should not only focus on liability coverage; it should focus on accountability and process improvement.  Having to do what’s right, continuously, is an edge. Establishing a formal system of malpractice inclusion in incidents, errors and healthcare process improvement is advantageous. Our world must accept this advantage with integrity, and integrity to military justice with medical malpractice is necessary. We can do what’s right with focus. Telling the story.  Regardless of who asks, telling the story is imp...