Skip main navigation

Military Health System

Hurricane Milton & Hurricane Helene

Emergency procedures are in place in multiple states due to Hurricane Milton & Hurricane Helene. >>Learn More

Innovation at the Defense Health Agency

DHA is improving health care delivery to our service members and their families through innovation. We're identifying transformative technologies to apply to our entire health care enterprise.

Through our focus on technology, patient-centered care, mental health, collaboration, and military readiness, DHA ensures Military Health System beneficiaries are receiving the best possible care.

Looking to partner with us? Have ideas on how to collaborate with us?

Email Us
Evolution of Health Care wave graphic

Technology and Digital Health

We're making strides leveraging advances in technology and digital health solutions. These strides improve access to care, streamlines processes, and enhances patient outcomes. How are we doing this? We're taking full advantage of new developments in telemedicine, mobile health apps, and remote monitoring.

Patient-centered Care

We're committed to improving patient-centered care. How are we doing this? We're involving patients and their families in the decision-making process, providing education and resources so patients are empowered to take command of their own health. We're tailoring the care we deliver to meet their needs. Our mission is to make extraordinary experiences ordinary and exceptional outcomes routine.

Mental Health Care

We're actively addressing the mental health needs of our service members and their families. How are we doing this? We're looking for innovative ways to improve mental health care services and resources, while working to reduce the stigma around mental health.

Collaboration and Partnerships

We're aiming to enable a culture of innovation focused on delivering improved health care to our MHS beneficiaries. How are we doing this? We're fostering partnerships with industry, academia, the non-profit sector, and collaborating with other government agencies.

Military Readiness

We support military readiness by delivering great health care to our beneficiaries at our military hospitals and clinics. How are we doing this? By developing new approaches to health care delivery we're supporting the unique needs of our service members and their families.


The Evolution of Health Care

“Our vision of the future is one where [we] are liberated by technology rather than burdened by it…We are going to meet the patients where they are. Anytime. Anywhere. Always.” – U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland, DHA Director.

Watch Lt. Gen. Crosland's presentation from the 2023 AMSUS annual meeting on DVIDS.

  • Evolution of Health Care Wave 0 graphicSiloed, Brick/Mortar
  • Health Care System Centric
  • Little Actionable Data
  • Misaligned Incentives
  • Volume Based Reactive/Disease Based
  • Point of Care = Point of Need
  • Evolution of Health Care Wave 1 graphicCorporate, Brick/Mortar
  • Health Care System Centric
  • EHR Generated Data
  • Misaligned Incentives
  • Volume Based
  • Reactive/Disease Based
  • Point of Care = Point of Need
  • Wave 2Virtual = Live
  • Consumer Centric
  • Multiple Sources of Data
  • Collaboration/Sharing
  • +/- Value Based Care
  • Predictive
  • Point of Care = Point of Need
  • Wave 3Virtual = Live
  • Empowered Patient
  • Smart Data, Actionable Insights
  • Seamless Digital Experience
  • Value Based Care
  • Proactive/Wellness Based
  • Point of Care = Point of Need

You also may be interested in...

Report
Jun 1, 2019

MSMR Vol. 26 No. 6 - June 2019

.PDF | 5.16 MB

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Modeling Lyme disease host animal habitat suitability, West Point, New York; Incidence, timing, and seasonal patterns of heat illnesses during U.S. Army basic combat training, 2014–2018; Update: Heat illness, ...

Publication
May 14, 2019

Mobile Applications for Client Use: Ethical and Legal Considerations

.PDF | 106.81 KB

Mobile applications (apps) to support behavioral health are increasing in number and are recommended frequently by medical providers in a variety of settings. As with the use of any adjunct tool in therapy, psychologists adopting new technologies in clinical practice must comply with relevant professional ethics codes and legal standards. However, ...

Publication
May 14, 2019

Smartphone Apps for Psychological Health: A Brief State of the Science Review

.PDF | 146.14 KB

In this brief state of the science review, we provide a synopsis of the literature on psychological health mobile applications (apps) and discuss the impact of mobile technology on psychological health practice. We describe the variety of psychological health app uses from self-management, skills training, and supportive care to symptom tracking and ...

Publication
May 14, 2019

Cultural Considerations in Using Mobile Health in Clinical Care With Military and Veteran Populations

.PDF | 113.94 KB

Traditional cultural models typically address factors like ethnicity, language, and race as important concerns pertaining to treatment efficacy, but over the years, professionals have expanded the focus to include gender, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, and other aspects of identity and experience, including military cultural issues. As ...

Report
May 1, 2019

MSMR Vol. 26 No. 5 - May 2019

.PDF | 5.75 MB

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Modeling Lyme disease host animal habitat suitability, West Point, New York; Incidence, timing, and seasonal patterns of heat illnesses during U.S. Army basic combat training, 2014–2018; Update: Heat illness, ...

Report
Apr 1, 2019

MSMR Vol. 26 No. 4 - April 2019

.PDF | 6.23 MB

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Modeling Lyme disease host animal habitat suitability, West Point, New York; Incidence, timing, and seasonal patterns of heat illnesses during U.S. Army basic combat training, 2014–2018; Update: Heat illness, ...

Report
Mar 1, 2019

MSMR Vol. 26 No. 3 - March 2019

.PDF | 4.05 MB

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000–2017; Cardiovascular disease-related medical evacuations, active and reserve components, U.S. Armed Forces, 1 October 2001– ...

Report
Feb 1, 2019

MSMR Vol. 26 No. 2 - February 2019

.PDF | 2.50 MB

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000–2017; Cardiovascular disease-related medical evacuations, active and reserve components, U.S. Armed Forces, 1 October 2001– ...

Report
Jan 1, 2019

MSMR Vol. 26 No. 1 - January 2019

.PDF | 2.42 MB

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000–2017; Cardiovascular disease-related medical evacuations, active and reserve components, U.S. Armed Forces, 1 October 2001– ...

Skip subpage navigation
Last Updated: July 11, 2023
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on X Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery