b'JB MDL Partners With US Army To Expand Orthopedic Carewww.dvidshub.net/news/414328/jb-mdl-partners-with-us-army-expand-orthopedic-careU.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ariel OwingsStory by Senior Airman Ariel OwingsJoint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public AffairsNEWS | Feb. 7, 2022The 87th Medical Group has teamed up with Keller Army Community Hospital located at West Point, New York to U.S. Army Col. Chad Haley, bring advanced orthopedic care to service members assignedMD, Keller Army Community Hospital Chief of surgery to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. poses for a photo in the Starting February 2022, U.S. Army Col. Chad Haley, MD,physical therapy room at the 87th Medical Group on Joint KACH chief of surgery, will be traveling to Joint Base MDLBase McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.once a month to evaluate patients in need of potential surgi-cal and postoperative orthopedic care.trying to align local medical treatment facilities to reduce Being a military surgeon, I know how to do the profiles, Ipurchase care (off base). We knew there was an orthopedic know what my patients need to do in their job for the mostdoctor within (reach) so we reached out to (KACH) to do part, and I know about the medical board system, Haleythis initiative.said. We keep our records on the same platform as theDHA is a joint, integrated Combat Support Agency that providers here. Immediately, they can see what I write on aenables the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force medical services patient and know what the plan is versus going to a civilianto provide a medically ready force and ready medical force physician where patients have to either hand-carry theirto Combatant Commands. The DHA uses the principles of records or electronically send them to the military medicalReady, Reliable Care to advance high-reliability practices facility. That doesnt always happen or (the records) get lost. across the Military Health System by improving systemJoint Base MDL is an outpatient medical facilitypatientsoperations, driving innovative solutions, and cultivating a are referred to civilian doctors off the installation for theirculture of safety. surgical needs. This usually requires double appointments We are sending patients out to the civilian sector to get for military members to see their primary care physician care when we have the capability in-house, said Francioni. and the referred doctor, transferring medical records by hand We lose close to $2 million a year by sending patients to between facilities, medical decisions made by professionalscivilian doctors. If we are able to provide that care in-house, who may not understand military standards and requirements,then we could save a significant amount of money for the and additional payments to the medical office from theDepartment of Defense.Department of Defense. As a mitigation, the medical leadershipAccording to Francioni, orthopedic surgeries can range at Joint Base MDL and KACH are experimenting with thebetween $15,000 to $25,000 per person. This initiative traveling provider, starting with Haley. recaptures money back to the force that can be focused on Medical-wise, all branches of service are falling under theadding to or improving existing departments, processes, or DefContract # 5929 Dental ense Health Agency, said U.S. Air FArts Grouporce 1st Lt. Giuseppeeven medical staff.2022 Military 7th MDG grAppreciation Resource MagazineFrancioni, 8 oup practice manager. They arecontinued on page 38https://www.dagsmiles.com/DAGVeteransThank You For Your Service Military Appreciation Resource Magazine 19'