Military Beneficiary Appointment Compliance

Authors

• Anthony M. Reddick, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Military Medicine

Advisor

Dr. Colletti

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The Military Health System (MHS) currently faces significant operational strain, exacerbated by patient non-adherence to scheduled medical visits. This literature review analyzes data from the past decade—including federal reports, congressional reviews, and service-specific records—to quantify the scope of missed appointments and their impact on system efficiency. Accepted articles for this review were limited to military medical facilities, Federal Government articles or reports, including congressional reviews, and service-specific medical units. Findings identified that on average, military members miss between 6-7% of their medical visits. In a system with more than 1.3 million active-duty personnel in the medical system, this would presumably mean that more than one million missed visits occur annually. This review evaluates current notification methods and identifies a lack of enterprise-wide standardization across phone, text, and portal reminders. While emerging mobile applications offer potential for improved access and prescription management, a uniform implementation remains absent. To mitigate financial burdens and enhance patient access, the MHS must adopt a standardized yet tailorable notification framework. Future research should prioritize the integration of these enterprise-wide digital solutions to optimize resource management.

Keywords: military, no-show, access, DHA, MHS, resource management, beneficiaries, operational readiness

Recommended Citation

Reddick AM. Military Beneficiary Appointment Compliance. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2026; 8(1).