It’s often said that the only three things military personnel need to be effective in carrying out their missions are beans, bullets, and bandages. That oversimplification makes for great soundbites and t-shirts slogans. But if there’s just one piece of wisdom I have taken from nearly three decades in military service— including my current command at 8th Medical Brigade— and applied as CEO of VIGILINT, is the axiom that amateurs talk about strategy and professionals talk about logistics. This wisdom isn’t just for military leaders, but also for executives leading in corporate and public health settings. There is a wealth of knowledge to be mined from military health system strategies, developed over decades of transformative change, and applying the military’s lessons learned can improve health systems resilience.
Lesson 1: Efficient Supply Chain Management
The Defense Health Program (DHP) is one of the largest integrated health systems in the world, with an annual budget exceeding $50 billion USD. For the Defense Health Agency’s Medical Logistics Division (MEDLOG), precision execution of medical care depends on a complex, tightly integrated supply chain and global distribution system that aggregates medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, equipment, and service activities. This system works well and powers a ready medical force supporting millions of beneficiaries. DHP has streamlined the military health system by standardizing medical supplies and equipment, acquisition processes, and optimizing lifecycle management of materials and equipment. Corporate healthcare can do the same by standardizing equipment and supplies across departments and facilities, establishing redundant and broadly-based procurement sources, and improving inventory discipline through IT and process improvements. Such systemic investments will improve inventory management, reduce capital spent on stored and expiring supplies, minimize risk from supply chain disruptions, and ensure doctors and healthcare staff focus on providing prompt, efficient, and effective care.
Lesson 2: Crisis Preparedness and Response
A terrifying scenario in medicine, whether on the battlefield or in a city hospital, is not being prepared when unexpected disaster strikes. Military health systems emphasize scenario planning, drill regularly, and train rapid response protocols so that when disasters happen, all hands are not only on deck but are comfortable being there. Training and rehearsals should include not only providers, but also the logistics systems that support them. Corporate healthcare systems should integrate procedures from crisis planning into everyday functions, so that emergency responses are like everyday operations, thus reducing the opportunity for errors during crisis.
Lesson 3: Implementing innovative change takes an army.
The military has evolved to meet healthcare challenges from era to era, accumulating dozens of legacy systems and processes. As healthcare became more complex, inefficient systems clashed, created waste, and even endangered patients. Over the past decade, the Department of Defense faced this head-on through by forming the Defense Health Agency (DHA), tackling global procurement, facilities, distribution, and manning for the largest healthcare system in the world. But just as the DHA brought leaders together to find opportunities throughout the entire medical value chain, they found implementing change is hard and requires many diverse perspectives.
Preparedness extends from the field into the hospital, with efficient protocols and empowered staff delivering precise medical care. However, it’s about more than procedures, rather it’s a cohesive team of physicians, nurses, support staff, administrators, and others all trying to improve care, one day and one patient at a time. Corporate healthcare executives should emphasize input from their medical providers, administrators, analysts, and patient advocates to understand gaps, and uncover innovative solutions. The best answers are usually within their teams. And a successful team makes the complexities of modern healthcare look as simple as beans, bullets, and bandages.
Dr. Sean Siler
Dr. Sean Siler is CEO of VIGILINT.
