Dr. Brian Lein, assistant director for health care administration for the Defense Health Agency (DHA) visited the newly established Hawaii Market the week of October 18, 2021. Lein assists the DHA director in unifying the Military Health System, standardizing health care delivery across all military hospitals and clinics, and sustaining medical readiness of the armed forces. During his time in Hawaii he toured each of the Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) on Oahu to gain perspective of the unique capabilities, staff, and mission sets each MTF brings to the Hawaii Market.

Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Pearl Harbor is gearing up for Hawaii’s flu season, typically stretching from November to May. The command began administering flu vaccines to the active duty Navy and Marine Corps population beginning early October.

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) formally established the Hawaii Market, a critical milestone in once-in-a-generation Military Health System reform efforts to improve the readiness of the force and the health care service provided to warfighters, retirees and military families, on July 13, 2021. The Hawaii Market will enable greater collaboration across military hospitals and clinics in the Hawaii region to strengthen the medical readiness of service members and enable these facilities to deliver better care and a better patient experience.

NHCH has initially received a limited quantity of COVID-19 vaccines for frontline healthcare personnel and emergency support services. NHCH is following the Department of Defense's (DoD) phased, standardized, and coordinated approach to administering COVID-19 vaccines. The strategy was developed in collaboration with Operation Warp Speed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the DOD’s COVID Task Force assessment of unique mission requirements.

More than 1,000 young babies die in their sleep every year in America due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as SIDS. It’s a terrifying thought for parents – the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy child less than a year old. The exact cause of SIDS remains unclear; doctors have been unable to fully explain the cause despite years of research.

Are you wondering if you’re eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot? The answer is yes, if you’re age 18 or older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently expanded eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots as further described below.

Have questions about TRICARE For Life (TFL)? The “Get to Know TRICARE” podcast just launched a new series, called “Getting the Care You Need With TRICARE For Life.” Like the “TRICARE For Life 101” series, this new series will continue to provide helpful conversations around important TFL topics. New episodes take a look at covered services, out-of-pocket costs, and the claims process.

For years the Military Health System has provided new mothers with high-quality care that consistently tops the civilian health care sector.