title: Transitioning Former Military Medics to Civilian Health Care Jobs: A Novel Pilot Program to Integrate Medics Into Ambulatory Care Teams for High-Risk Patients.
abstract: Despite their medical training, record of military service, and the unmet needs within the health care sector, numerous challenges face veterans who seek to leverage their health care skills for employment after leaving the military. Creative solutions are necessary to successfully leverage these skills into jobs for returning medics that also meet the needs of health care systems. To achieve this goal, we created a novel ambulatory care health technician position on the basis of existing literature and modeled after a program which incorporates former military medics in emergency departments. Through a quality improvement approach, a position description, interview process, training program with clinical competencies, and team integration plan were developed and implemented. To date, two medics have been hired, successfully trained on relevant skill sets, and are currently caring for medical outpatients (under the supervision of licensed clinical personnel) as crucial interdisciplinary team members. Taken together, a multifaceted approach is required to effectively harness military medics' skills and experiences to meet identified health delivery needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: Brook
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: Renée H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schaub
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lea
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasenstaub
authors.affiliation: Community Outpatient Services, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44122.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slivka
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: Todd I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirsh
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000523:psychology; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002322:Career Mobility; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000193:education* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D010560:Personnel Selection; D016730:Program Development; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000458:organization & administration; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology; D000078329:Workforce