DoD: More Concerned with Appropriations than Appropriate Medical Care for Soldiers

[babylonsister]

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/06/28/dod-more-concerned-with-appropriations-than-appropriate-medical-care-for-soldiers/

DoD: More Concerned with Appropriations than Appropriate Medical Care for Soldiers
Posted by Buck | Jun. 28, 2007, 2:21 pm

So what happens if you develop a software system that enables Army physicians in Iraq to seamlessly track medical information on a wounded soldier through the Army’s medical system and into the Veterans Affairs medical system? And what if that software solved the problems that plagued Walter Reed Army Hospital and its treatment of wounded veterans? And what if you developed it on the cheap? And what if your software was lauded by the highest of the higher-ups in the Army and VA?

Answer: You get transferred to the equivalent of “bureacratic Siberia.”

Such was the fate of Lt. Col. Mike Fravell, who developed the patient-tracking system in 2003 and created a Web-based version last year while on a fellowship at VA.
The ability to transfer electronic medical information between DoD and the VA is critical to providing the highest quality health care to the men and women who have been wounded in combat .
— David Gorman, executive director of Disabled American Veterans

The transfer was in retaliation for Fravell’s public criticism of the two Defense health agencies, a congressional source said. At a hearing in May of the House Veteran Affairs Committee, Fravell spoke highly of the two patient-tracking systems he developed and criticized MHS’ reluctance to work with VA on the two systems. “I think on the DoD side, things are very territorial,” Fravell told the committee.

The transfer occurred despite widespread praise for Fravell’s systems. Army Chief of Staff George Casey said this month they provided the Army with “improved visibility on location, medical status and progress of soldiers’ care.” David Gorman, executive director of Disabled American Veterans, said, “The ability to transfer electronic medical information between DoD and the VA is critical to providing the highest quality health care to the men and women who have been wounded in combat or otherwise require medical care after serving in the military.”

Now why would the Department of Defense transfer a guy who had created a cheap, effective, popular tool that aids the medical treatment and care of sick and wonded soldiers? Can you spell money?

At stake are billions of dollars. Through fiscal 2006, AHLTA alone cost Defense $775 million to develop and deploy. The system’s fiscal 2007 budget is $392 million. By comparison, Joint Patient Tracking Application system cost less than $1 million to develop and $2 million a year to maintain.

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[ThomCat]

1. There should be a purge over this.

The territorial fucks who are behind this hold-up should be out on thier asses. x(