Wounded warrior care and the future of military health were the focus of the annual Military Health System (MHS) Conference, held last week at the Gaylord Nation Resort and Conference Center at National Harbor, Md.
The week-long conference, which featured leading health officials from the Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Veterans Affairs and TRICARE, also honed in on the transformation of the MHS and warfighter support.
Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, opened the plenary on Jan. 31 with his presentation of "Healthcare to Health; A Model for the Nation." He noted DoD's transformation to a smaller, leaner force for the military medical community, and stated that a precedent of excellence in trauma and critical care has evolved out of 10 years of combat care.
"Our primary focus remains those serving in combat operations overseas," Woodson said.
During the Surgeon General's panel on Feb. 1, Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho, Army surgeon general and commander of U.S. Army Medical Command, discussed empowering patients in their own health.
"In order for us to get to health, we must empower our patients. The need is urgent, the time is now," Horoho said.
Navy Surgeon General and Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Vice Adm. Matthew Nathan, said, "I've seen the synergy of what happens when the Army, Navy and Air Force come together during medical operations. It is important to remember that caring for our wounded warriors is a long-term mission that needs collaboration among services and federal health care agencies."
Nathan, the former commander of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) and National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), also applauded the achievements by the joint medical teams while acknowledging those lost, saying, "We celebrate our victories together, and mourn our losses together. We are family."
Navy Vice Adm. John M. Mateczun, commander, Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical agreed with Nathan, highlighting the collaborative effort of integrating Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) with NNMC, which he described as, "no small miracle."
"Change is constant for us as we work in the healing profession," Mateczun said. "Change is hard, but it makes everything better in the end."
Also during the conference, representatives from various health care facilities and agencies provided attendees with information about the latest technologies in health care.
Approximately 3,000 people attended the conference, and many ventured down the MHS Exhibition Hall. There they found booths representing various departments including the Veterans Administration, Army and Navy Medicine, JTF CapMed and companies who supply and support military health. Many attendees took advantage of the opportunities to ask questions and share ideas.
When asked what would be her lasting memory of the conference, Lt. Col. Kelly Longenecker of Fort Knox, Ky., said she will remember, "The real effort [being put forth in] outpatient care and the team concept [of all the services working together]."
