Level: Beginner
Ken Kovats, Senior Nurse Analyst, US Army Medical Command
Charles (Dennis) Sissel, Decision Science Analyst, US Army Medical Command
Ruby Sharp, Decision Science Analyst, US Army Medical Command
Ernesto Negron, Decision Science Analyst, US Army Medical Command
Is there a difference in the rate of surgical intervention (arthroscopy with meniscectomy) for active duty soldiers with diagnosis of meniscal tear between the direct care military treatment facilities and civilian purchased care (network) providers?
The Department of Defense’s (DoD) Military Health System (MHS) ensures America’s military personnel are healthy and medically ready to complete their national security missions. Health services are provided to DoD beneficiaries via two means: the direct care system, consisting of DoD-operated hospitals and clinics at military installations around the world, and the purchased care system, where beneficiaries are referred to civilian providers, practices, and institutions, which then bill the DoD for services provided.
This study looks at the rates of surgical intervention of Army active duty soldiers with a diagnosis of meniscal tear over a three-year window to determine if the rate of surgical intervention differs between soldiers receiving care at military treatment facilities versus those referred to the civilian network system. Longitudinal data is extracted from MHS data systems via SAS. Text Explorer in JMP is used to identify referrals, diagnostic procedures, and whether surgical intervention occurred. The Contingency Table feature in JMP is used to determine if there are differences in the rates of surgical interventions between the direct and purchased care patients.
