The United States government includes the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, which administers to a variety of veterans’ needs, including healthcare. Less well-known, and more poorly understood by many, is the U.S. Department of Defense Military Health System. The MHS exists to provide for the health and wellness of our deployment-ready troops, as well as to accompany them into active combat zones; its army, navy, and air force personnel provide a wide range of services to troops on the battlefield.
Here are 5 functions of the DOD’s health system, along with its associated Defense Health Agency, of which you might not already be aware:
Maintain the Health of Active-Duty Personnel
The maintenance of the health and fitness of American military personnel is the primary mission of the MHS. This initiative focuses upon combat-readiness, and is in charge of both establishing and maintaining standards of physical preparedness for active-duty personnel. It also provides emergency services and personnel in the event of injuries during hostilities, and is in charge of evaluating the health of prospective new recruits.
Putting Boots on the Ground
The MHS does more than provide preparatory services, screenings, and fitness standard maintenance. In addition to their employees at hospitals and clinics around the globe, they also send personnel into the field, to provide emergency medical services and support for wounded military personnel. Every US military base and other facility around the world has MHS employees available to provide the best modern healthcare possible, ensuring the rapid treatment of critical injuries and avoiding many common battlefield medical complications with which civilian agencies rarely have to cope. This specialized focus ensures that US soldiers receive the best care available.
Close Coverage Gaps in Veterans’ Health Services
One of the most crucially under-insured demographics in the United States today is that of the military veteran without access to VA healthcare. Millions of veterans and their immediate family members, including spouses and dependents, were without reliable health insurance as recently as 2014. The MHS works with the DHA and other, civilian agencies to help close the gap, ensuring the greatest number of possible healthcare options for previously uninsured veterans.
Operate Dedicated Medical Departments and Facilities
More than 135,000 personnel work directly for the DOD’s Military Health system. They are employed at facilities across the United States and all over the world, including dozens of hospitals and hundreds of clinics (as well as hundreds more specialized clinics, such as dental clinics). No aspect of the health and readiness of military personnel is neglected. To date, the MHS is the largest such military health and readiness program in the world.
Attending the Needs of Dependents and Family
Since 1966, the MHS has made space and funding available to assist with the needs of military families. This includes dependents of active-duty personnel, but may also apply to the dependents of military retirees, as well as some former spouses. Resources are provided as they are available, in cooperation with various agencies set up specifically to assist the civilian members of military families.
For Further Information
The Military Health System provides medical support services to American military personnel around the world. It does so via the ongoing operations of the Defense Health Agency, which was founded in 2013 with the intended goal of improving upon the military’s existing commitment to its soldiers’ health and well-being. The Defense Health Agency was created to be the managing agency for a wide range of constructive military health reforms, with the ongoing mission of ensuring that American military personnel receive the best medical care of any military force on Earth.
See also: Top 10 Best Online Master of Health Administration Degree Programs (MHA)
