WHAT'S INSIDE:
*Pregnant military mothers dodge delivery-care drama on Okinawa*
*JCMA continues to give voices to affected families (includes resources for active-duty servicemembers)*
*Pregnant military mothers dodge delivery-care drama on Okinawa* | Last week, the Chief of Medical Staff of the 18th Medical Group, Kadena AFB sent out a memo titled Notification of OB Care Divert. It outlines the staffing shortage at United States Naval Hospital Okinawa and subsequent “necessary yet temporary adjustment in the plan of care for pregnancy deliveries from July to December of this year.” This memo was accompanied by dozens of provider phone calls to pregnant patients informing them they had 24 hours to decide to stork nest to the States or attempt delivery off base. Our advocates received several complaints from scared, confused patients. We immediately began speaking with impacted families, military health advocates, birthing professionals, media networks, and decision makers to support the affected families.
Today, the Tricare Newsroom published a statement rolling back yesterday’s memo. The statement asserts there has been “no change to labor and delivery care at Naval Hospital Okinawa,” though patients were informed the opposite just yesterday. It addresses a “recent concern over the ability to continue providing full-spectrum labor and delivery care,” acknowledging the upset of the Active Duty community while ignoring the initial memo that instigated these concerns. It also ignores that DHA is cutting military billets in Japan and that civilians are refusing to take jobs for fear of being denied medical care thanks to DHA policy. The statement does acknowledge “unanticipated early departure of civilian staff” contributing to the sudden staffing shortages on island, though the sudden exodus of civilians is nothing short of unanticipated. Congress recently wrote a bicameral letter to Secretary Austin identifying it as a direct risk to readiness.
The Tricare Newsroom reported that “through a collaborative effort on the part of DHA and the medical departments of all military services, Okinawa will continue to provide full labor and delivery services for all beneficiaries within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.” DHA is continuing to send out reactionary stop-gap measures that do not address larger reform issues.
While we applaud the quick reaction of DHA, this trend in poorly implemented roll backs is cause for serious concern. It illustrates how MTFs in Japan continue to operate on a razor-thin margin of staffing and how quickly beneficiary populations can be rocked by the effects. A hospital spokesman attributed the mixed messaging to miscommunications between the Kadena clinic and the naval hospital - a poor example of the "standard processes" the DHA promised Japanese MTFs would follow to maximize space for patients. Many individuals who yesterday were preparing to move their families (or travel alone late term to give birth) do not feel the latest statement earns confidence. Notable comments from the community include:
“It makes one wonder why these things being done to resolve the issue so quickly were only initiated after public concern.”
“This back and forth decision making just creates doubt and trust concerns for follow through.”
And, the most common public sentiment amid the 2 memos…
“Who dropped the ball?”
Kelly Pretorius, a pediatric nurse practitioner and civilian health care advocate, said she remains concerned about the safety of mothers and babies who are being cared for at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa.
“The unexpected departure of civilian staff should not have come as a surprise,” she told Stars and Stripes in an email Friday. “We know stress causes negative health outcomes for mothers and babies; why are we causing more unstable environments for such a vulnerable population, especially among our active-duty families?”
JCMA continues to give voices to impacted families | JCMA was formed when veterans now serving as DOD civilians became horrified at the lack of patient safety within military hospitals during DHA's military health reform. They, in speaking with military leadership, lawmakers, public health officials, and military families realized that the services were being ignored. Gen. Mark Milley, USA, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers in 2022 that DHA's "rightsizing" could leave the military lacking in trained medical personnel “in the fielded force to handle combat conditions.” Over 20 health care and medical specialty organizations, including the National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health National and Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, urged Congress to preserve the military medical workforce. Now, the DOD is stating military medical shortages reflect a national shortage - a disregard to the DHA takeover reducing military billets and creating unthinkable stress for their existing workforce.
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We believe military families who are suffering.
We believe them because we are their support.
We believe them because we are in this together.
In service,
Japan Civilian Medical Advocacy
https://www.jcmadvocacy.org/