Battlefield neurosurgical care in the current conflict in southern Afghanistan

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. E7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus F. Eisenburg ◽  
Martin Christie ◽  
Peter Mathew
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Military Hospital ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Conflict Zone ◽  
Military Campaign ◽  
The Military

An international military campaign involving large numbers of troops is ongoing in Afghanistan. To support the military efforts in the conflict zone, a network of military medical services of varying levels has been established. The largest and busiest multinational military hospital in southern Afghanistan is located at Kandahar Air Field where the only neurosurgeon is based. This report outlines the contribution of multinational military health services and the workload of the neurosurgical service in Kandahar.

scholarly journals An Analysis of International Military Health Systems Using the Military Medical Corps Worldwide Almanac

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan M Leone ◽  
Zenobia Homan ◽  
Antonin Lelong ◽  
Lutz Bandekow ◽  
Martin Bricknell
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Organizational Structures ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Medical Systems ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Military Healthcare ◽  
The Military

Abstract Introduction A number of organizations publish comparisons of civilian health systems between countries. However, the authors were unable to find a global, systematic, and contemporary analysis of military healthcare systems. Although many databases exist for comparing national healthcare systems, the only such compilation of information for military medical systems is the Military Medical Almanac. A thorough review of the Almanac was conducted to understand the quality of information provided in each country’s profile and to develop a framework for comparing between countries. This information is valuable because it can facilitate collaboration and lesson sharing between nations while providing a structured source of information about a nation’s military medical capabilities for internal use. Materials and Methods Each of the 142 profiles (submitted by 132 countries) published in the Almanac were reviewed. The information provided was extracted and aggregated into a spreadsheet that covered the broader categories of country background, force demographics, beneficiary populations, administration and oversight, physical structures and capabilities, research capabilities, and culture and artifacts. An initial sample of 20 countries was evaluated to test these categories and their subsections before the rest of the submissions were reviewed. Clear definitions were revised and established for each of the 69 subcategories. Qualitative and quantitative data were compiled in the spreadsheet to enable comparisons between entries. Results Significant variation was found in how information was presented in country profiles and to what extent this was comparable between submissions. The most consistently provided information was in the country background, where the categories ranged from 90.15% to 100% completion across submissions. There was inconsistency in reporting of the numbers and types of healthcare workers employed within military medical services. Nearly 25% of nations reported providing medical care to family members of service members, but retirees, veterans, reservists, and law enforcement personnel were also mentioned. Some countries described organizational structures, military medical education institutions, and humanitarian operations. A few reported military medical research capabilities, though each research domain was present in 25% or less of all submissions. Interestingly, cultural identities such as emblems were present in nearly 90% of profiles, with many countries also having badges, symbols, and mottos. Conclusions The Military Medical Almanac is potentially a highly valuable collection of publicly available baseline information on military medical services across the world. However, the quality of this collection is highly dependent on the submission provided by each country. It is recommended that the template for collecting information on each health system be refined, alongside an effort to increase awareness of the value of the Almanac as an opportunity to raise the international profile of each country’s military medical system. This will ensure that the Almanac can better serve the international military medical community.

scholarly journals Extending Peer Support Across the Military Health System to Decrease Clinician Burnout

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin A Keyser ◽  
Larissa F Weir ◽  
Michelle M Valdez ◽  
James K Aden ◽  
Renée I Matos
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Military Hospital ◽  
Military Health System ◽  
Patient Death ◽  
Provider Type ◽  
Military Health ◽  
High Staff Turnover ◽  
The Military

Abstract Introduction Clinician burnout is widespread throughout medicine, affecting professionalism, communication, and increases the risk of medical errors, thus impacting safe quality patient care. Previous studies have shown Peer Support Programs (PSPs) promote workforce wellness by supporting clinicians during times of heightened stress and vulnerability. Although these programs have been implemented in large institutions, they have not been used in military hospitals, which have high staff turnover and added stressors of deployments. Materials and Methods In December 2018, 50 physicians received 5 hours of PSP training at a military hospital from a nationally recognized PSP expert, following the programmatic structure described by Shapiro and Galowitz (2016). Utilization of the program was tracked from December 2018 to December 2019, recording only classification of provider type, triggering event, and provider specialty to maintain confidentiality. Qualitative comments from recipients and supporters were saved anonymously for quality improvement purposes. Results In the first year of our PSP, 254 clinicians (102 [40.2%] residents/fellows, 91 [35.8%] staff physicians, 4 [1.6%] medical students, 35 [13.8%] nurses, 22 [8.7%] allied health) received 1:1 peer support. Primary specialties utilizing peer support included 135 (52.9%) medical, 59 (23.2%) surgical, 43 (16.9%) obstetric, and 18 (7.1%) pediatric. Patient death (25%), risk management notification (22%), medical error/complication (15%), and poor patient outcome (13%) were the most common events triggering peer support. Peer support was provided at 8 locations across the continental United States with universally positive comments from recipients. Conclusions Implementation of a PSP at our institution led to rapid utilization across multiple hospitals in the military health system, a model that could easily expand to deployed settings and remote locations. Access to peer support across the military health system could both mitigate the increased risks of military clinician burnout, and improve patient safety, healthcare worker resilience, and service member readiness.

scholarly journals Seventy Years Since the Establishment of the Skopje Military Hospital, 1944-2014

PRILOZI ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-231
Author(s):  
Doncho Donev ◽  
Ilija Gligorov ◽  
Andreja Naumovski
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Military Hospital ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
The Status ◽  
Health Institutions ◽  
The Military ◽  
Military Units ◽  
The Village

AbstractAim: To present the phases and activities over the period of the existence and work of the Military Hospital in Skopje, from its establishment in 1944 to its transformation on 01.01.2010.Methods: A retrospective study based on available archive materials, encyclopaedias and other sources of information and review of the relevant literature, and personal experiences, observations and memories of the authors and others.Results: During the War of 1941-1945, the larger military units formed hospitals. On 15.11.1944, the hospital of the Headquarters of the People's Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia was moved from the village Gorno Vranovci to Skopje. The Military Hospital in Skopje received the status of permanent hospital of the 5th Army, and from 1945-1963 worked at the “Crescent” facility. After the earthquake in 1963, due to damage, it was partly moved to the hospital in Nish, and partly dispersed in pavilions. In 1971 a new military medical complex was put into operation, in which most belonged to the Military Hospital in Skopje. Until 1992 the military sanitation service was under the command of the then Yugoslav People's Army, and then was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence of R. Macedonia. From 10.04.1992 to 2.06.1992 it served as a Military Hospital of the Army of R. Macedonia and then as the “Centre of Military Health Institutions” until 26.10.2001. Then it was renamed the Military Hospital of the Army of R. Macedonia until March 2008, when converted to the Ministry of Defence as “Military Health Service - Military Hospital”. On 01.01.2010 the Military Hospital was reshaped into: PHI Eighth of September City General Hospital, Skopje, and the Military Medical Centre.Conclusion: The Military Hospital in Skopje over the period of its existence has been one of the key specialist-consultative and hospital facilities in the health system in R. Macedonia for providing health care to military beneficiaries and the civilian population.

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