Facing budget cuts, Brig. Gen. John Cho is studying how to do more with less and still provide quality health care for the military by streamlining and partnering.
Cho, the commanding general of the U.S. Army's Western Regional Medical Command, said part of the solution is found in cooperative efforts, partnering with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Veteran Affairs and the private sector.
"I don't think anyone cares what color uniform you're wearing," Cho said during a 20-minute speech Wednesday to the Tacoma-Pierce Chamber of Commerce. "You just want someone who can provide care in a quality matter. That's what matters. That's the impetus behind this plan."
Since arriving at Madigan Hospital at Joint Base Lewis McChord two and a half months ago, Cho has been working on a master plan that relies on cooperative efforts in the military.
The plan is to create the Puget Sound military health care network, putting the Army, Navy and Air Force under one umbrella. That network stretches from JBLM to Oak Harbor to Bremerton.
"Yes the manpower shortage in health care is only going to get worse as baby boomers age," Cho said. "And yes the cost of health care is rising. The answer has always been before us."
As commander of the Western Regional Medical Command, Cho oversees military hospitals in 20 states and Madigan is the largest of those hospitals.
Cho's master plan is driven by one priority.
"The needs of the patient must come first," he said. "We provide the health armament to ensure that we can have ready and deployable forces."
To provide that health care, Cho said there would be an increased reliance on "tele-help," or doctor's examinations and consultation via Skype. A patient who needs to see a cardiologist, a dermatologist or just a regular family doctor, could get care in their home, solving travel time. Also, an Army doctor at Madigan could consult with a Navy doctor at the Oak Harbor's Naval Hospital.
"It's a way of solving a problem," Cho said. "When I got here I asked what's our strategy? What's our business plan? How do you move a plan into action?"
To fulfill the requirement of providing "quality, safe, timely health care," Cho said things have to change because of the challenges of a shrinking budget as the military begins to downsize after a decade of wars in the Middle East. Innovation is another part of the solution. Another is doing it as "a community," working with a unified trauma program at Tacoma General, at Franciscan Health Care and with Madigan.
Cho said the partnership with the VA, with UMV and with United Health Care needs to be strengthened.
Cho said there are already many things the military health care is doing as a community. What's happening at JBLM is a test project and can become a blueprint for the rest of the country.
"If we get this right, here in the state of Washington, in the Puget Sound, we can show the rest," Cho said. "It's the first time a strategy map has been put together at this level. We're getting it right here."
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