This article highlights the deployment of telemedicine by the U.S. Army through the various echelons of care and in overseas locations, including range and scope of health services provided by telemedicine in a challenging environment. This is followed by a discussion of technological developments advances in mobile communications likely to change the practice of telemedicine in the military from limited fixed-point access to a highly mobile individual with handheld communication devices.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
PoropatichRK, DeTrevilleR, LappanC, BarriganCR. The U.S. Army telemedicine program: General overview and current status in Southwest Asia. Telemed J E Health, 2006; 12:396–408.
2.
mHealth. www.hrsa.gov/healthit/mhealth.html. 2012 October 31.
3.
Doctrine for health services support in joint operationsJoint Publication 4-02April26, 1995. www.bits.de/NRANEU/others/jp-doctrine/jp4_02(95).pdf. 2012 October 31.
4.
McManusJ, SalinasJ, MortonM, LappanC, PoropatichR. Teleconsultation program for deployed soldiers and healthcare professionals in remote and austere environments. Prehosp Disaster Med, 2008; 23:210–216discussion 217.
5.
MahnkeCB, JordanCP, BergvallE, PersonDA, PinskerJE. The Pacific Asynchronous TeleHealth (PATH) system: Review of 1,000 pediatric teleconsultations. Telemed J E Health, 2011; 17:35–39.
6.
DoarnCR, ShoreJ, FergusonS, JordanPJ, SaikiS, PoropatichRK. Challenges, solutions, and best practices in telemental health service delivery across the Pacific Rim—A summary. Telemed J E Health, 2012; 18:654–660.
7.
JonesMD, EtherageJR, HarmonSC, OkiishiJC. Acceptability and cost-effectiveness of military telehealth mental health screening. Psychol Serv, 2012; 9:132–143.
8.
StetzMC, FolenRA, YamanuhaBK. Technology complementing military behavioral health efforts at Tripler Army Medical Center. J Clin Psychol Med Settings, 2011; 18:188–195.
9.
GrosDF, StrachanM, RuggieroKJ, KnappRG, FruehBC, EgedeLE, LejuezCW, TuerkPW, AciernoR. Innovative service delivery for secondary prevention of PTSD in at-risk OIF-OEF service men and women. Contemp Clin Trials, 2011; 32:122–128.
10.
DoarnCR, McVeighF, PoropatichR. Innovative new technologies to identify and treat traumatic brain injuries: Crossover technologies and approaches between military and civilian applications. Telemed J E Health, 2010; 16:373–381.
11.
NievesJE, CandelarioJ, ShortD, BriscoeG. Telemental health for our soldiers: A brief review and a new pilot program. Mil Med, 2009; 174:xxi–xxii.
12.
GirardP. Military and VA telemedicine systems for patients with traumatic brain injury. J Rehabil Res Dev, 2007; 44:1017–1026.
13.
YurkiewiczIR, LappanCM, NeelyET, HesselbrockRR, GirardPD, AlphonsoAL, TsaoJW. Outcomes from a US military neurology and traumatic brain injury telemedicine program. Neurology, 2012; 79:1237–1243.
14.
MorganJ, WalkerS, MelaasD, CraneM, BacahuiJ, BoedekerBH. Tele-orthopaedics: United States Army European Regional Medical Command. Stud Health Technol Inform, 2012; 173:294–296.
15.
RandER, LappanCM, LeeJC, FurgersonJL. Paging the worldwide cardiology consultant: The Army Knowledge Online Telemedicine Consultation Program in cardiology. Mil Med, 2009; 174:1144–1148.
16.
MorganAE, LappanCM, FraserSL, HospenthalDR, MurrayCK. Infectious disease teleconsultative support of deployed healthcare providers. Mil Med, 2009; 174:1055–1060.
17.
SchmidtT, LappanCM, HospenthalDR, MurrayCK. Deployed provider satisfaction with infectious disease teleconsulation. Mil Med, 2011; 176:1417–1420.
18.
MinesMJ, BowerKS, LappanCM, MazzoliRA, PoropatichRK. The United States Army Ocular Teleconsultation program 2004 through 2009. Am J Ophthalmol, 2011; 152:126–132.e2.
19.
BlankE, LappanC, BelmontPJJr, MachenMS, FickeJ, PopeR, OwensBD. Early analysis of the United States Army's telemedicine orthopaedic consultation program. J Surg Orthop Adv, 2011; 20:50–55.
20.
Telebehavioral health in Afghanistan: Increasing access to behavioral health servicesNovember18, 2010. http://my.counseling.org/2010/11/18/telebehavioral-health-in-afghanistan-increasing-access-to-behavioral-health-services/. 2012 October 31.
21.
HsuJ. Telebehavioral health in theater pilot program Phase 1 report: November 2010–April 2011. Public Health Assessment Report Number 23-KM-0DPH-11. U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM), 2011.
22.
https://mrmc.amedd.army.mil/index.cfm?pageid=media_resources.articles.mcare_mobile_app_wins_a_2010_army_greatest_inventions_award. 2012 October 31.
23.
KosarajuA, BarriganCR, PoropatichRK, CasscellsSW. Use of mobile phones as a tool for United States health diplomacy abroad. Telemed J E Health, 2010; 16:218–222.
24.
DoarnCR, BarriganCR, PoropatichRK. Application of health technology in humanitarian response: U.S. military deployed health technology summit—A summary. Telemed J E Health, 2011; 17:501–516.
25.
LamDM, PoropatichRK. Telemedicine deployments within NATO military forces: A data analysis of current and projected capabilities. Telemed J E Health, 2008; 14:946–951.