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.

New DHA Region to Support Health Care Across Three Combatant Commands

Image of Two men unfold flags. The Defense Health Agency formally establishes the DHA Region Europe Oct. 25, 2022, marking the final major organizational change that institutes the DHA as the Defense Department’s lead agency responsible for health care delivery at U.S. military medical facilities worldwide. Here, U.S. Army. Brig. Gen. Clinton K. Murray (left), the director of the DHAR-E, unfolds the DHA flag during the establishment ceremony in Garmisch, Germany. The eight stars on the DHA flag represents the uniformed services the DHA serves -- U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, U.S. Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Public Health Service. (Photo: MHS Communications)

In a culmination of a years-long process, the Defense Health Agency welcomed military hospitals and clinics in Europe and the Middle East to a new DHA region as the final major organizational change that establishes the DHA as the Department of Defense’s lead agency responsible for health care delivery across U.S. military brick-and-mortar hospitals and clinics worldwide.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Ronald Place, director of the DHA, presided over a ceremony in Germany Oct. 25, establishing the DHA Region Europe. The region oversees health care delivery for more than 135,000 beneficiaries currently enrolled in military hospitals and clinics in Iceland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bahrain, and Kuwait. They support service, joint, and multi-national combined activities, programs, and operations across three U.S. combatant commands–U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Africa Command.

“Today, we’re welcoming the military medical facilities throughout the entire EUCOM and CENTCOM areas of responsibility, and also continuing our support to AFRICOM AOR, even though we don’t have fixed facilities there,” said Place during the ceremony in Garmisch, Germany. “This transition is different in that it represents three combatant command areas of responsibility, and it represents communities where we deliver a much larger percentage of the overall medical care.”

Led by U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Clinton K. Murray, director of the DHAR-E, the region comprises 29 medical facilities providing health care to U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Space Force service members, their families, and military retiree families.

The establishment of DHAR-E will increase overall access to care for beneficiaries and improve coordination and standardization across the Military Health System. The agency will also provide more opportunities for military medical providers to get the training they need.

Murray said, “Why we’re here is because we’re a power projection platform, and that’s who we support. We need a ready medical force and a ready medical force to support three combatant commands.”

Following the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2017, DHA started the process to assume responsibility for the administration and management of military hospitals and clinics throughout the world. By establishing the DHAR-E, DHA and military service branches can tailor health care delivery and medical readiness to their warfighters.

“As beneficiaries witness this transition, the changes may not be immediately evident. But, over time, they’ll see more and more common processes, whether that’s from the value of a common health record at every military hospital or clinic and dental treatment facility, or a simplified means to access care,” said Place. “The medical leaders here and throughout these combatant commands will make that happen. And the Defense Health Agency, as an entity, is here to support you.”

Place recognized that each medical facility and installation “has a unique mission, unique characteristic, geography, and history. And you understand the ‘ground truth’ of health care in your community,” he added.

Murray emphasized the importance of launching DHAR-E with a team of dedicated professionals.

“We must integrate, coordinate, and liaise at the echelon level. We need the right personnel to make sure we have the logistics and facilities in place to move at the speed of relevance,” said Murray.

Place noted DHA’s commitment to beneficiaries across Europe.

“Our job in the DHA is to support you with those services,” he said. “You, the military line leaders. You, the military medical leaders. And you, the patients we all serve.”

You also may be interested in...

Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Renamed to Honor Army Doctor

Article
5/19/2023
Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Renamed to Honor Army Doctor

Defense Health Agency renames Fort Belvoir Community Hospital to honor historic leader and highest-ranking black officer in the Union Army.

BAMC Ranks Among Top Hospitals in Nation for Surgical Care

Article Around MHS
11/15/2022
Military medical personnel performing surgery

Brooke Army Medical Center was recognized by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for achieving meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care in 2021, ranking the hospital among the top 10 percent of participating hospitals for surgical care.

Chief Medical Officer Earns Top Honor for Excellence in Health Care

Article
10/12/2022
Two men pose with an award

The San Antonio Market’s chief medical officer received a top honor from the American Academy of Family Physicians for his outstanding contributions as a physician leader.

MHS Minute | September 2022

Video
10/12/2022
MHS Minute | September 2022

How Military Hospitals and Clinics Prepare for Disasters

Article
7/8/2022
 When disaster strikes – like massive wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes or floods – Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs) need to be prepared.

When disaster strikes – like massive wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes or floods – military hospitals and clinics need to be prepared.

How MHS Video Connect Improves Mission Effectiveness and Care Quality

Article
5/18/2022
Army Lt. Col (Dr.) Robert Cornfeld explains how MHS Video Connect's convenient, secure, and easy-to-use virtual video visit capability helps providers keep patients on mission and improves engagement with them, directly leading to better health outcomes.

Open to all active duty service members, retirees, and their families enrolled in a military hospital or clinic, MHS Video Connect empowers patients to meet with their military health provider virtually through live video on any internet-connected computer, tablet, or mobile device.

Continuing Implementation for Reform of the Military Health System

Policy

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.

MHS Video Connect Offers Convenience, Efficiencies for Providers

Article
2/16/2022
Ryan BrennanTL1 725 x 410 px

MHS Video Connect provides a safe and effective platform to virtually engage with patient “face-to-face”.

BAMC Earns Re-Verification as Level I Trauma Center

Article
1/28/2022
Trauma personnel receive an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ECMO patient into the Emergency Department at Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Jan. 24, 2022. BAMC has been re-verified as a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons for its dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.

Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in Texas has been re-verified as a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons.

Contract Awarded for Largest Overseas U.S. Military Hospital

Article
1/21/2022
Rendering of the Rhine Ordnance Barracks Medical Center Replacement (ROBMCR) project.

The contract to build the largest U.S. hospital outside the United States has been signed, marking a significant step forward in progressing the Rhine Ordnance Barracks Medical Center Replacement (ROBMCR) project.

How Standing Up Regional Markets is Improving Access to Health Care

Article
1/11/2022
Air Force Maj. Megan George, a registered nurse assigned to the 633d Medical Group based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, retrieves medical supplies from a storeroom at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, Minnesota during COVID-19 response operations, Dec. 7. The DHA has seen early success in replacing deployed personnel in their assigned markets (Photo by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael H. Lehman).

Modernizations set in motion in 2021 will optimize care and sharing of medical resources across services and the entire MHS, says U.S. Public Health Service Capt. Tracy Farrill.

New Small Market and Stand Alone MTF Organization Marks Big Milestone

Article
12/20/2021
The Defense Health Agency officially established the Small Market and Stand Alone Military Treatment Facility Organization, or SSO, during a ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly Field in Texas on Dec. 14.

The Defense Health Agency officially established the Small Market and Stand Alone Military Treatment Facility Organization, or SSO, during a ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly Field in Texas on Dec. 14.

Puget Sound Market stands up with integration in mind

Article Around MHS
12/7/2021
Military personal posing

Defense Health Agency leaders ushered in the new Puget Sound Market within the nationwide Military Health System.

Local military medical units combine into medical market

Article Around MHS
11/26/2021
Leadership unfurls the DHA guidons during a ceremony

The 96th Medical Group at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and Defense Health Agency leadership marked the forming of a new military medical organization during a market establishment ceremony on Nov. 15. This new Florida Panhandle Market is a transformation of northwest Florida-based military treatment facilities into a market, or group of military medical facilities working together within the military health system.

New MHS Video Connect increases convenient access to care for patients

Article
11/4/2021
Air Force Lt. Col. John A. DaLomba

The MHS is rapidly expanding the number of facilities using MHS Video Connect, with all continental United States-based hospitals and clinics expected to have the capability by the end of 2021.

Page 1 of 9 , showing items 1 - 15
First < 1 2 3 4 5  ... > Last 
Refine your search
Last Updated: February 01, 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