Military medicine
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When deployed abroad, military surgeons frequently have to deal with casualties involving head trauma. The emergency treatments, as well as craniotomies, are often performed by non-neurosurgeons qualified with basic neurotraumatological skills. Previous neurotrauma courses for education of non-neurosurgeons in Germany teach surgical emergency skills but do not include the training of skills needed to successfully utilize imaging in surgical planning, which is of importance for the safety and success of the treatment. To overcome these limitations, 3D printed models of neurotrauma cases were fabricated for application in the training of non-neurosurgeons. ⋯ The presented method provided a way to fabricate precise 3D models of neurotrauma cases, which are suitable to teach the application of medical imaging in surgical planning. For further benefit analysis, the application of the presented education tool needs to be investigated within a neurotrauma course.
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The U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is changing the way it provides healthcare to a model known as Whole Health (WH). The aim is to shift from a primarily medical/disease-oriented system to a model that focuses on health promotion and disease prevention; utilizes personalized, proactive, and patient-driven care; and emphasizes the use of complementary and integrative health. This investigation aimed to examine referral and utilization patterns in early implementation at tertiary care VHA medical care system. Specific aims were to evaluate (1) referral patterns, (2) initial treatment engagement, and (3) continuity of treatment engagement. ⋯ Implementation of the WH model of care has the potential to transform the way VHA delivers healthcare and improve the health and lives of veterans. However, a shift of this magnitude is likely to face challenges during implementation. This article reports on initial barriers to implementation, which can guide implementation at other sites as well as future investigations. Further research is needed to replicate these results as well as to determine underlying causal factors. However, if replicated, these results indicate that successful implementation of WH, or similar models of care, will require extensive efforts focused on outreach to, and education of, facility providers and certain patient demographic groups. Finally, efforts will be required to enhance treatment engagement.
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Global Health Engagement is used as one of the instruments of power to win hearts and minds of our partner nations and allies worldwide. Global Health Engagement is dynamic process with myriads of dimensions, applications, and deliverables. Planned and executed correctly, it can yield huge dividends as per SCP and Theater Campaign Plan.
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After a vehicle rollover led to the death of a military member in Central Africa in 2018, it became apparent there was a significant gap in the capability to collect toxicology samples of Service Members involved in accidents and mishaps at remote Special Operations Forces locations in Africa. Multiple misconceptions surrounding sample collection, procedures for laboratory evaluation, and methods for shipment signaled the importance of establishing a procedure and a plan to provide the necessary medical inventory to properly collect and ship samples. ⋯ SOCAFRICA established a prepared kit with all of the materials for sample collection, accompanied by step-by-step descriptions of the procedure, and clear guidance on the proper completion of the requisite paperwork that meets medico-legal requirements.