Skip to main content

Military Health System

Test of Sitewide Banner

This is a test of the sitewide banner capability. In the case of an emergency, site visitors would be able to visit the news page for addition information.

DOD's Whole of Government Approach to COVID is Working, Says Adirim

Image of Dr. Terry Adirim, acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, right, speaks during a panel discussion. Dr. Terry Adirim, acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, right, speaks during a panel discussion as part of the opening keynote for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society 2021 annual conference at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, August 8. (MHS photo by Jacob Moore)

During the opening keynote at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s annual conference, Dr. Terry Adirim, acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, explained how she has been extremely impressed by the Department of Defense’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic since taking over her current role. She also detailed how adaptation and innovation have played key parts in that response.

The panel, entitled “Preserving the Health of a Population – Early Lessons from a Global Pandemic,” was hosted by Hal Wolf, HIMSS president and chief executive officer, and included Adirim, Dr. Ran Balicer, chief innovation officer for Israel’s Clalit Health Services; Dr. Patrice Harris, CEO and co-founder of eMed; and Dr. Hans Henri Kluge, the World Health Organization’s regional director for Europe.

“I was very impressed when I came in in January with all of the work that the department has done. It really took a whole of government approach and that was very much emphasized by Secretary (of Defense, Lloyd) Austin,” Adirim said. “He really supported all aspects and sectors in doing that, as well as taking care of our service members and beneficiaries.”

Adirim explained how she was also impressed with how “thoughtful,” the DOD’s Force Health Protection Guidance was regarding COVID, although emerging variants such as Delta may necessitate a shift in the department’s approach.

“Even pre-vaccination, we were able to protect our force and they were able to complete their mission,” she said. “I think Delta has thrown a wrench in that a little bit, but I think overall, the Department of Defense has, and continues to do, a pretty good job.”

Adirim said the early lessons learned should be catalysts for change within DOD healthcare.

“We need to take what we’ve done during the pandemic – and those things that are working, document that for going forward,” she said.

With the changing nature of the virus, and new information becoming available daily, she said flexibility and change are essential to the DOD’s mission.

“Our healthcare system has been fairly nimble when it comes to re-looking at how we do things and when it comes to completing our missions, especially our national security mission,” said Adirim. “We’ve had to adapt and change. It was hard, but when people see that it’s working, we’ll continue to do those things going forward.”

Change includes looking at an issue and adapting to the current environment. She spoke specifically about addressing children’s mental health citing that, of the Military Health System’s 9.6 million beneficiaries, a significant portion are children of service members who have to deal with the anxiety that can go along with frequent moves, changing schools, etc.

“We’ve been leveraging technology and we’ve greatly expanded tele-behavioral health,” Adirim said. “Necessity is the mother of invention. The pandemic hit and we made sure we expanded that, so our families could have better access to mental health services.”

Adirim also spoke about the innovation that has taken place within the DOD. Just one example was using 3D printing for protective items such as face shields to overcome supply chain issues and equipment shortages that presented themselves early in the pandemic.

“I think using technology for even the more mundane things would help us be more well-prepared,” she said

You also may be interested in...

Policy
Aug 18, 2022

DHA Policy Memo 22 006

.PDF | 156.56 KB

Consolidates and updates the Department’s guidance regarding vaccination verification, vaccination status, COVID-19 testing, surveillance and screening testing, personnel protection on-site mask requirements, (e.g., DHA military medical treatment facilities, meetings, travel), and the protection of personally identifiable information.

  • Identification #: 22-006
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Feb 24, 2022

DHA Memorandum OSD001285 22

.PDF | 3.12 MB

This memorandum directs the continued implementation of the Military Health System organizational reform required by law, extending the authority, direction and control of all military hospitals and clinics not currently under Defense Health Agency authority to the DHA, to include military hospitals and clinics in overseas areas.

  • Identification #: OSD 001285-22
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Mar 25, 2021

TAB A MEO COVID19 Medical Coding Policy

.PDF | 161.81 KB

Memorandum for DHA Staff - Military Medical Treatment Facilities to Implement Updated DHA COVID-19 Medical Coding Policy

  • Identification #: N/A
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Mar 25, 2021

DHA COVID19 Medical Coding PolicyV5 1v

.PDF | 436.92 KB

Establishes the DHA procedures to standardize the coding for Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) within military medical treatment facilities (MTFs). This memorandum replaces DHA-Policy Memorandum 20-003 of July 1, 2020. Attachment 1 was updated to include the 2021 procedure and diagnosis codes for COVID-19, including the new vaccination and treatment codes.

  • Identification #: 20-003
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Dec 31, 2020

Providing DoD COVID 19 Vaccines DoD Contractors and Select Foreign Nationals

.PDF | 129.54 KB

This memorandum provides supplemental guidance on the provision of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, in accordance with reference (a). The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is the lead coordinating DOD Component for executing this guidance, in coordination with the Military Departments and other DOD Components as appropriate.

  • Identification #: N/A
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Dec 17, 2020

Guidance for COVID 19 Laboratory Pre Testing Questionnaire

.PDF | 574.09 KB

This memorandum provides guidance for a COVID-19 laboratory pre-testing questionnaire that will be mandatory for all Active Duty Service members and encouraged for all other DOD beneficiaries treated at military medical treatment facilities.

  • Identification #: N/A
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Dec 7, 2020

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Guidance

This memorandum provides guidance on the provision of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is the lead coordinating DOD Component for executing this guidance, in coordination with the Military Departments and other DOD Components.

  • Identification #: N/A
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Nov 3, 2020

DHA AI 3020 01

.PDF | 846.31 KB

Establishes the DHA's plan to return to full operations and support the whole-of-government response, during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

  • Identification #: 3020.01
  • Type: Administrative Instructions
Policy
May 13, 2020

DHA Policy Memo 20 003

.PDF | 354.70 KB

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) Memorandum, based on the authority of References (a) and (b), and in accordance with the guidance of References (c) and (d), establishes the DHA’s procedures to standardize the coding for Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Military Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs). This memorandum cancels and replaces DHA- Policy Memorandum ...

  • Identification #: 20-003
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Oct 25, 2019

Continuing Implementation of the Reform of the Military Health System

.PDF | 2.31 MB

This memorandum directs the continued implementation of the Military Health System (MHS) organizational reform required by 10 U.S.C. § 1073c, and sections 71 land 712 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The DoD policy for this reform is guided by the goals of improved readiness, better health, ...

  • Identification #: N/A
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Dec 21, 2012

Waiver of Restrictive Licensure and Privileging Procedures to Facilitate the Expansion of Telemedici

.PDF | 1.51 MB

In order to facilitate the expansion of telemedicine services in the Military Health System, this memorandum waives selective provisions of Department of Defense 602S.13-R, "Clinical Quality Assurance in the Military Health System," June 11 , 2004. This waiver is conditioned on the specific provisions of this memorandum, and shall remain in effect, ...

  • Identification #: 12-010
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Jul 30, 2012

MHS Enterprise Architecture Signed Memo and Guide 20120730

.PDF | 184.40 KB

Announcement of the release of the Military Health System (MHS) Enterprise Architecture (EA) Guide. The guide supports the MHS CIO’s responsibilities for development and maintenance of EA, which complies with the Department of Defense’s responsibilities under the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996, Public Law 104-106.

  • Identification #: 00-memo-2012-07-30
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Jul 26, 2012

Guidance on the Establishment of a Human Cell Tissue and Cellular and Tissue Based Products Progra

.PDF | 1017.00 KB

This memorandum requests the Services resource a Human Cell, Tissue, and Cellular and Tissue Based Products (HCT/Ps) Program that complies with regulatory standards for management and oversight of HCT/Ps, according to the best fit for their Service.

  • Identification #: 00-memo-2012-07-26
  • Type: Memorandums
Policy
Jun 19, 2012

Standard Enterprise Architecture Requirements for Acquiring Information Management Information Techn

.PDF | 1.27 MB

The Military Health System (MHS) Information Management/Information Technology (IM/IT) Strategic Plan established enterprise-wide interoperability and common architecture goals for MHS 1M/IT products and services that promote agility and interoperability within MHS and externally with Federal and industry partners.

  • Identification #: 00-memo-2012-06-19
  • Type: Memorandums
Refine your search
Last Updated: July 11, 2023
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery