Air Force surgeon general details 'Trusted Care Anywhere' and efficiencies for House panel

  • Published
  • By G.W. Pomeroy
  • Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The Air Force Medical Service's simple mantra, "trusted care anywhere," fits what AFMS does today and will continue to do in years ahead, the Air Force surgeon general told Congress March 15.

In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on military personnel with his military health system counterparts, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green said "trusted care anywhere" means creating a system that can be taken anywhere in the world and be equally as effective whether in war or for humanitarian assistance.

"Military health system achievements have changed the face of war," Doctor Green said.

"We deploy and set up hospitals within 12 hours of arrival anywhere in the world," he said. "We move wounded warriors from the battlefield to an operating room within minutes and have achieved and sustained a less than 10 percent died-of-wounds rate. We move our sickest patients in less than 24 hours of injury and get them home to loved ones within 3 days to hasten recovery."

Doctor Green said more than 85,000 patients have been safely evacuated from Afghanistan and Iraq since October 2001. In 2010, 11,300 patients, many of whom were critically injured, were safely evacuated.

To further advance these capabilities, Doctor Green pointed out that Air Combat Command now has an expeditionary medical system deployable hospital capable of seeing the first patient within one hour of arrival and performing the first surgery within 3 to 5 hours.

"These systems are linked back to American quality care and refuse to compromise on patient safety," Doctor Green said, referring to the diagnostic informatics, which have also advanced greatly, both from deployed locations and in garrison, since the war began.

Doctor Green also emphasized the Air Force Medical Service focus on patients and populations.

"Patient-centered care builds new possibilities in prevention by linking the patient to a provider team, and both patient and provider team to an informatics network dedicated to improving care," he said.

"Efficient and effective health teams allow recapture of care in our medical treatment facilities to sustain currency," he said. "Continually improving our readiness ensures patients and warfighters always benefit from the latest medical technologies and advancements."

Air Force officials support the DOD strategy to control health care costs, and they believe it is the right approach to manage the benefit while improving quality and satisfaction, he said.

"By the end of 2012, Air Force patient-centered medical homes will provide one million of our beneficiaries new continuity of care via single provider-led teams at all Air Force facilities. We will do all in our power to improve the health of our population while working to control the rising costs of health care."

Doctor Green closed his comments by noting that Air Force Medical Service officials, through partnerships with the Army, Navy, Veterans Administration, civilians and academic partners, "leverage all the tools you (Congress) have given us to improve retention and generate new medical knowledge.

"We will continue to deliver nothing less than world-class care to military members and their families, wherever they serve around the globe," he said.

In addition to his testimony, Doctor Green also answered questions from committee members.

In response to a question from committee chairman Rep. Joe Wilson about examples of efficiencies in the AFMS, Doctor Green said AFMS officials had decreased headquarters manning to increase staffing at clinics, looked closely at support staff ratios, and spent considerable effort looking at the management of operating rooms and emergency rooms.

"Operating room throughput has increased as much as 40 percent," he said, and because of patient-centered medical homes, patient satisfaction and patient access measures are up.

Doctor Green added that improved disease management and case management are increasing efficiency across the services.