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Military Physicians: DOD's Medical School and Scholarship Program

HEHS-95-244 Published: Sep 29, 1995. Publicly Released: Sep 29, 1995.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and Health Profession Scholarship Program (HPSP), focusing on: (1) the cost of obtaining military physicians from all sources; (2) the quality of medical education provided by the University; (3) how physicians are trained to meet military medical needs; and (4) retention rate patterns among USUHS and HPSP.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
As Congress makes policy decisions regarding the need for a cadre of physicians who are likely to become career military officers and the most appropriate means of retaining those physicians, it may wish to consider requiring DOD to justify both USUHS and HPSP in the context of specific DOD short- and long-term requirements for military physicians, the role of USUHS and HPSP in satisfying those requirements, and their relative costs.
Closed – Not Implemented
Congressional action is not expected, as nothing was done in the FY 1996 Defense Authorization or Appropriation Acts or accompanying reports.

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Attrition ratesCost effectiveness analysisDefense contingency planningHealth care personnelMedical educationMedical schoolsMilitary officersMilitary trainingPhysiciansStudent financial aidHurricane Andrew