Validation of Current MSKI Metrics and Targeted Goals for the Total Force

As one of the most common DLMC, MSKI present a threat to military readiness. MSKI accounted for 8 million limited duty days in 2018 in the US Army alone. This represents 59% of all limited duty days in 2019 and 65% of medically non-deployable Soldiers. For comparison, behavioral health conditions accounted for only 10% of limited duty days during this same time period. Thus, to understand the rising trend in DLMCs, having access to complete and accurate data on MSKIs is necessary.

In order to accurately assess temporal changes in injury rates, it is vital to take inventory of all sources of available data on MSKIs among service members. This will include a comprehensive review of military data marts, speaking with key subject matter experts that compiled the data, and learning if this true baseline is accurate. Once a thorough data review has been completed, recommendations can be made on how to use big data to recommend new care process models. An environmental scan will be used to assess the current MSKI metrics across the DoD, DHA, and the MHS and establish surveillance methods. Environmental scans are used for a variety of public health research topics and look to evaluate types of knowledge that exists for a research question while keeping in mind the needs of specific communities. Environmental scans involve multiple sources of data, varying target populations, and usually include systematic and exploratory literature reviews, and interviews or focus groups with key stakeholders resulting in some form of program planning.

The objective of this study is to perform an environmental scan of data on MSKI, including an inventory and assessment of available resources, assessment of common data elements, and inventory of knowledge translation pathways, culminating in the establishment of surveillance. Knowing how these metrics are tracked across the services will improve surveillance and lead to better knowledge translation products and care outcomes. Findings of this study may be useful in developing more timely and intraoperative methods for tracking MSKI in the MHS which can ultimately improve readiness of the Total Force.