Military medicine
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Pharmacy patient experience within military treatment facilities (MTFs) is a significant indicator of healthcare quality, as hospital admissions correlate with medication use (Budnitz et al., 2006) and pharmacists have a unique opportunity to influence patients' health (Dalton & Byrne, 2017). To improve patient care across the military health system (MHS), we investigated best practices within MTF pharmacies with the highest patient experience scores. ⋯ These findings provide valuable insights to improve public health in military-connected populations through improved patient care practices in pharmacies across the MHS. Initiatives aimed at improving health care for pharmacy patients should prioritize improved communication and structural support for team members to create patient-friendly environments, which enables pharmacists and technicians to connect with patients and positively impact health outcomes. Limitations include lack of comparison data for lower performing pharmacies; future research will explore practices at lower ranking pharmacies to provide insights into communication practices, environments, and staff relationships impacting patient experience scores as well as the role patient demographics (e.g., retirees vs. active duty) and characteristics including facility size play in potential improvements.
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In Antarctica, human access and presence are complex and require detailed planning and preparation in advance. The personnel of National Antarctic Programs (NAPs, i.e., scientists and support personnel, including military, civilians, and mountaineers) stay in different isolation, confinement, and extreme (ICE) environments such as ships, research stations, and scientific summer camps. Antarctica imposes harsh conditions that influence physiological and psychological responses impacting health, mood, and physical and cognitive performances. ⋯ We evaluated and compared the individual's mood at the beginning and the end of the PAT week and observed group-specific mood changes depending on the sex, functions, and the facilities that participants accessed. Finally, we proposed that conducting training before staying in Antarctica, besides promoting conditions to better plan the voyage and knowledge of the region, can contribute to dealing with the possible mood swings during expeditions and even promote positive affect. Therefore, the psychophysiological effects of PAT are topics for further investigations.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 highlighted the Army Reserve as a key partner in Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA). Tropic Care, an Innovative Readiness Training mission, led by the 1984th U. S. Army Hospital, served as a venue to train on unit Mission Essential Task Lists while providing an initial assessment on its DSCA response capability.
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines are a remarkable scientific achievement. The perspective on past viral vaccine performance and viral characteristics, such as incubation period, can help with messaging and instilling vaccine confidence. Protection against mild infection occurs in the short term (months), but the persistence of protection against severe disease will likely endure longer.
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Sleep disorders are common in the military, and there is a gross shortage of sleep specialists in the military health system. The purposes of the present study were to (1) understand perceptions and expectations surrounding sleep telehealth approaches and (2) solicit feedback to optimize and refine a proposed novel sleep telehealth management platform. To accomplish these objectives, we investigated the perceptions, expectations, and preferences of active duty service members (ADSMs) with sleep disorders, primary care managers (PCMs), and administrative stakeholders regarding sleep telehealth management. ⋯ The proposed sleep telehealth platform appealed to nearly all participants as a significant force multiplier to enhance sleep disorder management in the military. Stakeholders offered valuable recommendations to optimize the platform to ensure its successful real-world implementation.