Graduate Medical Education in the Military Health System: Strategic Analysis and Options.

Graduate Medical Education (GME) is vital to produce the future physician workforce and medical leadership of the MHS. It also provides the MHS with clinically skilled manpower. Graduate Medical Education (GME) research sows the seeds for future discoveries to improve combat casualty care and other priority objectives of the MHS. Although readiness is the MHS's top mission, GME is also vital to meeting the other three components of the quadruple aim (better health, better care, and lower costs). Properly managed and adequately resourced GME can accelerate the transformation of the MHS into an HRO. Based on our analysis, DHH believes that there are numerous opportunities for MHS leadership to strengthen GME so it is more integrated, jointly coordinated, efficient, and productive. All physicians emerging from military GME should understand and embrace team-based practice, patient safety, and a systems-oriented focus. This will ensure that those we prepare to be the military physicians of the future are prepared to meet the needs of the line, to protect the health and safety of deployed warfighters, and to provide expert and compassionate care to garrisoned service members, families, and military retirees.