Filling the gaps in the COVID-19 pandemic response: medical personnel in the US military health system.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented public health emergency that heavily affected the healthcare workforce. Although the Military Health System (MHS) has robust capabilities and was able to deploy medical staff to support civilian hospitals during the crisis, it too was adversely impacted by personnel issues. We aimed to identify and address gaps in understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare personnel in the MHS.

Supporting the nation in crisis: the military health system's role in enhancing public health capacity through public-private partnerships.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant global disruptions to the healthcare system, which was forced to make rapid changes in healthcare delivery. The pandemic necessitated closer collaboration between the US civilian healthcare sector and the military health system (MHS), resulting in new and strengthened partnerships that can ultimately benefit public health and healthcare for the nation. In this study, we sought to understand the full range of partnerships in which the MHS engaged with the civilian sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and to elicit lessons for the future.

Disparities in the use of colorectal cancer screening in a universally insured population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Despite the known efficacy of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, the rates of individuals undergoing such testing have remained lower than target thresholds, even prior to the healthcare disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CRC screening within a nationally representative US population and assessed disparities in screening across racial/ethnic groups and socioeconomic (SES) strata.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study using all eligible TRICARE beneficiaries aged 45-64 years between FY 2018 and 2021.

Trends in breast cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic within a universally insured health system in the United States, 2017-2022.

Background: In the United States, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in women. Early detection through mammogram screening is instrumental in reducing mortality and incidence of disease. The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to the provision of care, including delays in preventive screenings.