Pentagon targets poorly performing military hospitals, clinics

The Washington Post: Pentagon To Target Its Hospitals Providing Poor Care Following Review
A system-wide review of the military's healthcare system has determined that eight facilities run by the Pentagon have "significantly higher than expected" rates of patients getting sick following treatment but that the system overall provides quality care. Results of the review, released Wednesday, found wide disparities in the care provided by the military, with some aspects of the system performing better than in the civilian healthcare system and others ranking "below national benchmarks" (Lamothe, 10/1).

Reuters: Hagel Orders Steps To Imrove U.S. Military Health System
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel took steps on Wednesday to improve the U.S. military healthcare system after a review concluded that some patients had to wait too long to see a doctor and others received care that was below standard. The Pentagon chief gave Defense Department hospitals and clinics with underperforming units 30 days to develop plans to reduce wait times and deal with other access issues. He told facilities with quality problems to submit improvement plans in 45 days. Officials said none of the medical facilities examined underperformed consistently on the three main areas examined: access to care, quality of care or safety. There were some underperforming units in some hospitals, but the overall facility provided reliable healthcare, they said. Hagel ordered the healthcare system review in late May after the head of an Army medical center was relieved of command over concerns about problems at the hospital, including two deaths (Alexander, 10/1).