Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety

First call Resolution and Do Not Call Back Policy

This Army OTSG/MEDCOM policy identifies responsibilities of MTF commanders, primary care, specialty care and other stakeholders identified in the appointing process to ensure patient satisfaction for our beneficiaries; outlines use of alternative portals such as Army Medicine Secure Messaging, Nurse Advice Line and TRICARE Online; specific procedures are also identified to correctly transfer calls in accordance with existing access to care standards, referral management protocols, and proper use of managing clinic schedules to ensure appointing success the first time one of our patients seeks access.

• Identification #: OTSG/MEDCOM Policy Memo 15-019
• Date: 4/2/2015
• Type: Memorandums
• Topics: Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety | MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients) | MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients) | Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety

Credentialing and Privileging Program

This instruction updates and reissue policy and procedures for the Credentialing and Privileging Program for the Department of the Navy (DON) as part of the DON Clinical Quality Management Program (CQMP).

• Identification #: N/A
• Date: 3/27/2015
• Type: Instructions
• Topics: Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety | MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients) | MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients) | Patient Safety

Air Force Instruction 44-102: Medical Care Management

This instruction implements Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 44-1, Medical Operations, and provides guidance for the organization and delivery of medical care. It implements various publications of Department of Defense (DoD), recognized professional organizations, the Joint Commission (TJC), the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and appropriate health and safety agencies

• Identification #: N/A
• Date: 3/17/2015
• Type: Instructions
• Topics: MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients) | MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients) | Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety

Evaluation of the TRICARE Program Fiscal Year 2015 Report to Congress

The Evaluation of the TRICARE Program: Access, Cost, and Quality, Fiscal Year 2015 Report to Congress is provided by the TRICARE Management Activity (TMA)/Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)—Defense Health Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (DHCAPE), in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) (OASD/HA).This evaluation report presents results trended over at least the most recent three fiscal years, where programs are mature and data permit. MHS cost, quality, and access data are compared with corresponding comparable civilian benchmarks, such as comparing beneficiary-reported access and experience to results from the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), comparing our quality measures to the national expectations and results of the Joint Commission, and comparing healthrisky behavior to Healthy People 2020 objectives.

Non-Availability of Patient Appointments at Medical Treatment Facilities

This policy is to be implemented immediately to ensure patients are not told to call back the next day for an appointment.

• Identification #: N/A
• Date: 2/12/2015
• Type: Memorandums
• Topics: Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety | Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety | MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients)

Continuing Health Education Update

Continuing Health Education Update presented to the Defense Health Board

Form Follows Function Pursuing a World Class System for Health

Form Follows Function: Pursuing a World-Class System for Health

MEDCOM Regulation 40-49: Medical Services Surgical Counts

This regulation provides guidelines for accountability of items used during operative and other invasive procedures (inclusive of minimally invasive procedures) to ensure they are not retained in a patient. This regulation addresses which items will, at a minimum, be counted, as well as when, how, and by whom the surgical count will be performed.

• Identification #: N/A
• Date: 1/21/2015
• Type: Guidelines
• Topics: MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients) | Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety

Continuing Health Education Tasking Update

Continuing Health Education Tasking Update presented to the Defense Health Board

Medical Ethics Subcommittee Update on Dual Loyalties of Medical Providers Tasking

Medical Ethics Subcommittee Update on Dual Loyalties of Medical Providers Tasking presented to the Defense Health Board

Air Force Instruction 44-176: Access to Care Continuum

This publication implements AFPD 44-1, Medical Operations. It provides guidance and procedures for Access to Care (ATC) operations within the Air Force Medical Service (AFMS). It establishes the roles, responsibilities, definitions and requirements for implementing, sustaining and managing ATC for AFMS Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs).

• Identification #: N/A
• Date: 10/30/2014
• Type: Instructions
• Topics: Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety | Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety

Army OTSG/MEDCOM Policy Memo 14-085: Prevention of Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI)

This policy memo provides standardized definitions, standardized guidelines for insertion and maintenance of urinary catheters, and standardized processes for data collection and reporting of CAUTIs.

• Identification #: N/A
• Date: 10/23/2014
• Type: Memorandums
• Topics: Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety | MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients)

Army OTSG/MEDCOM Policy Memo 14-083: Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP)

This policy memorandum directs Commanders to incorporate health care delivered to patients placed on ventilators at the patient's bedside whose measures that have been shown to prevent or reduce VAP as described in the current scientific literature.

• Identification #: N/A
• Date: 10/17/2014
• Type: Memorandums
• Topics: Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety | MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients)

Dual Loyalties of Medical Providers

Briefing at the August 11, 2014 Defense Health Board meeting on Dual Loyalties of Medical Providers

Army MEDCOM Regulation 40-57: Trial of Labor for Patients Attempting Vaginal Birth After Previous Cesarean Delivery

This regulation provides standardized guidance to promote maximum effectiveness and safety to the maternal-fetal unit during trial of labor (TOL) for vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) section delivery and to provide an optimal environment and psychosocial support to the patient.

• Identification #: N/A
• Date: 6/16/2014
• Type: Directives
• Topics: Access, Cost, Quality, and Safety | MHS Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information (for Patients)