Military health experts gather for conference - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Military health experts gather for conference

The 2012 Military Health System Conference will be held Jan. 30-Feb. 2 at National Harbor, Md., bringing together military medical personnel and civilian health care professionals to discuss the future of the military health care.

This year’s conference will focus on transformation, moving the system from “traditional health care to a community-wide focus on preventive health and force readiness,” according to a press release.

Scheduled speakers include Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Jonathan Woodson, acting Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jo Ann Rooney and Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho.

Agenda topics include coordinated record-keeping and information technology by the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments, advances in trauma care, prescription drug abuse, and behavioral health.

Last year’s conference attracted more than 4,400 attendees, including health care professionals, industry representatives, service members, and military and veterans service organization advocates.

Kristina Kaufmann, executive director of Code of Support Foundation, is among the advocates planning to attend.

“Too often, the chasm between medical and line leadership — at all levels of command — results in service members and families slipping through the cracks. … Our goal is to help break down the informational and organizational stovepipes that inhibit support to our service members and their families,” Kaufmann said.