Improved Guidance Could Result in More Cost-Effective Sizing of Military Medical Facilities
HRD-85-32
Published: Dec 31, 1984. Publicly Released: Dec 31, 1984.
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Highlights
GAO assessed the adequacy of the military services' economic analyses used in estimating the proper inpatient capacities for four proposed military medical facilities after taking into account the available medical care alternatives and projected inpatient workloads.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) | Before approving proposals for construction or alteration of DOD medical facilities, the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs, should ensure that the services have complied with the provisions of P.L. 97-337 and DOD Directive 6015.5 regarding consideration of underused capacity at nearby military medical facilities. The Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs, should also issue guidance to the military services on the methods to be used for developing workload projections based on historical trends adjusted for factors, such as potential workload changes expected as a result of anticipated changes in the facilities' missions, that demonstrate the trends are not good predictors of future workload. |
A manual has been published by OASD-HA prescribing a uniform methodology to be used in making economic analyses of military treatment facilities. The manual incorporates this recommendation.
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Topics
Economic analysisFacility constructionHealth care cost controlHospital bed countHospital planningMilitary hospitalsNational defense operationsMilitary forcesConstructionHealth care