ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The Logistics Management Institute initially developed a medical cost-avoidance model (MCAM) to estimate the costs associated with the failure to eliminate or control health hazards of army materiel systems during 1997. METHODS: Presented is an updated version of the MCAM that uses cost factors for individual health hazard categories. The earlier MCAM calculated army materiel acquisition-life cycle medical costs based on a single cost factor for all hazard categories. RESULTS: The Army's Health Hazard Assessment (HHA) Program, which uses the MCAM while assessing 18 types of health hazards commonly found in materiel undergoing the acquisition process, recognized the need to refine the MCAM to be hazard-type specific. These hazard types have unique cost factors and serve as the basis for the revised model. CONCLUSIONS: The revision will assist the HHA program in targeting health hazards that have the potential to affect soldier health and readiness.
Subject(s)
Military Medicine/economics , Military Personnel , Occupational Diseases/economics , Occupational Exposure/economics , Cost Control/methods , Health Care Costs/statistics & numerical data , Health Care Costs/trends , Humans , Military Medicine/methods , Models, Econometric , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Risk Assessment , Sick Leave/economics , Sick Leave/statistics & numerical data , United States/epidemiology , Veterans Disability Claims/economicsABSTRACT
During the 1970s, the Army health hazard assessment (HHA) process developed as a medical program to minimize hazards in military materiel during the development process. The HHA Program characterizes health hazards that soldiers and civilians may encounter as they interact with military weapons and equipment. Thus, it is a resource for medical planners and advisors to use that can identify and estimate potential hazards that soldiers may encounter as they train and conduct missions. The U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine administers the program, which is integrated with the Army's Manpower and Personnel Integration program. As the HHA Program has matured, an electronic database has been developed to record and monitor the health hazards associated with military equipment and systems. The current database tracks the results of HHAs and provides reporting designed to assist the HHA Program manager in daily activities.
