The Army's Community-Based Health Care Initiative: an innovative military case management program.

Abstract

As more Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve soldiers are called to active duty, there has been a rise in injuries sustained or aggravated by deployment. This increase caused an overwhelming explosion in the number of soldiers requiring prolonged medical care. The U.S. Army developed a program to address Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve soldiers requiring extended recuperation periods. This article addresses the Army's Community-Based Health Care Initiative. This initiative entails case management through the use of technology involving fax, phone, and e-mail and focuses on reduction in the number of medical holdover soldiers at military treatment facilities. Community-based healthcare organizations allow Army National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers to receive medical care in their hometown while living at home, working for the military, and continuing to receive full benefits as an active duty soldier.