FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Preventing illness or injury is the goal of the Air Force’s Preventive Medicine program, a topic that is highlighted in August during Preventive Health Month. Preventive Health extends beyond health care at an individual level, concentrating rather on the health of individuals, communities and specific populations to help groups reduce their risk…

To increase access to care, the Department of Defense launched an Urgent Care Pilot Program for TRICARE Prime beneficiaries. This program allows Prime enrollees two visits to a network or TRICARE authorized provider without a referral or prior authorization. The Urgent Care Pilot Program is for: • Active-duty service members, including National Guard or Reserve…

WASHINGTON (AFNS) — Since the Vietnam War, doctors have seen an increase in service members returning from combat with traumatic brain injuries from blasts. At the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), a directorate of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, doctors and therapists use research and technology to help service members with…

FALLS CHURCH, Va.– Innovation is a buzzword often associated with new technology platforms or successful sports teams, but in reality innovation can apply anywhere someone comes up with a new idea or way of doing something. When it comes to health innovation and research, it’s all about finding new solutions to improve healthcare throughout the…

BETHESDA, Md., — A course at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences here is teaching students global health care delivery in a unique way that’s sure to be a “thriller.” Students in USU’s family nurse practitioner doctorate of nursing practice program must take a population health course as part of their degree requirements. This online class…

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Just as the ability to read, write and be literate is critical to the processing of information in day-to-day life, health care has its own component of literacy. Health literacy is the capacity of individuals to obtain, process and understand health information and services in order to make informed decisions about…

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Post-traumatic Stress Disorder can be debilitating in some patients, but thanks to advancements in research and the continued training of mental health providers, treatments are getting better all the time. Maj. Joel Foster, Chief of Air Force Deployment Mental Health, said treating PTSD has improved dramatically in the last 20 years. “Twenty…

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Stress. Even mention of the word can increase anxiety for some. Everyone deals with stress differently, but how you cope with daily stressors can have great impacts on your quality of life and overall health. Stress is actually the body’s response to any demand, including change. According to the National Institute of…

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — Winter has ended and many people are headed outdoors to play their favorite sports, but couch potatoes beware. Summer is one of the most dangerous seasons for sport injuries. Children and adults should properly prepare and ease into summer sports such as basketball, track and field, football, golf or…