{"id":16515,"date":"2019-12-03T20:05:50","date_gmt":"2019-12-03T20:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/12\/03\/the-military-needs-a-unified-medical-command-says-lawmaker\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T20:43:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T20:43:26","slug":"the-military-needs-a-unified-medical-command-says-lawmaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/pay-benefits\/2019\/12\/03\/the-military-needs-a-unified-medical-command-says-lawmaker\/","title":{"rendered":"The military needs a unified medical command, says lawmaker"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The military health system is six years into reform measures that gave management of U.S. military hospitals to the Defense Health Agency and reduced the services\u2019 medical command responsibilities to primarily caring for active-duty personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Ohio congressman and Army Reserve Col. Brad Wenstrup says the reforms, while sweeping, may not go far enough, and he has thrown his support behind a Defense Health Command \u2013 one with a single flag officer overseeing DHA and the service surgeons general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such a command would have \u201cthe authority and flexibility to maximize capabilities, reach stated goals and be able to offer as many training opportunities as possible,\u201d Wenstrup told military and federal health professionals attending the AMSUS annual conference at National Harbor, Maryland, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI envision the command would include the Defense Health Agency, the surgeons general, the commands of the National Guard and reserves\u201d and more, Wenstrup said, adding that the goals would be to improve training and opportunities for military health providers while bettering care for beneficiaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wenstrup said a single command would help improve coordination between military medicine and civilian health providers, especially in training, where the services could increase the number of programs that put military surgeons and emergency medical clinicians in civilian trauma centers to maintain their combat treatment skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it could improve dialogue with other federal health agencies, state and local public health officials and emergency personnel to prepare for national emergencies and humanitarian missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have these opportunities. We have to have flexibility and we have to create relationships that will enhance all of medicine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t