Medical Management and Executive Education
The Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute’s stratEgic Communication Distance Learning Program offers an avenue for members of the medical community to fill gaps in medical executive management core competencies.
By Rosemary A. Durica, Ph.D.
Meeting the wide range of challenging requirements associated with an extensive military health care system (MHS) is no easy task. U.S. military medical professionals are required to possess not only clinical expertise, but also executive management skills.
This can be somewhat overwhelming—particularly when operating in a combat environment. The Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute’s (JMESI) stratEgic (E = e-learning) Communication Distance Learning Program offers an avenue for members of the medical community to fill gaps in medical executive management core competencies. It reaches audiences both CONUS and OCONUS, in peacetime and in war, in military treatment facility, schoolhouse and theater environments.
In the mid-1990s, the service medical departments and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs agreed on the importance of a joint/inter-service common core curriculum consisting of 40 core competency areas. The content is diverse covering seven domains: military medical readiness, health law and policy, ethics in health care environment, individual and organizational behavior, leadership and organizational management, performance measurement and improvement, and health resources allocation management.
This core curriculum is re-evaluated every three years by service and applicable interagency groups of subject matter experts. These 40 core competencies have stood the test of time. Any updates have been limited to the behavior statements within the competencies, and were reflective of a changing medical environment along with demands of global responsibilities.
The medical community, whether it be for-profit, non-profit or DoD/HA, struggles with administrative tasks of managing budgets, contracts, personnel, facilities, etc., along with ensuring clinical competence, patient safety and the highest possible accreditation standards. Coupled with deployment in addition to the taxing clinical duties, it is difficult for MHS personnel to attend face-to-face classes in order to achieve required military medical executive management education. Thanks to 21st century learning venues via Web-based technology and complimenting content, these clinicians can achieve knowledge-level and some application-level executive management skill competency through the JMESI online modules.
Our stratEgic Communication Distance Learning Program offers a dynamic, versatile, and user-friendly learning application to military medical personnel throughout the world. There are currently 76 modules acting as a conduit for the MHS work force to achieve and sustain knowledge in the 40 core competencies. The modules are designed for an asynchronous setting that overcomes geographic and time constraints, providing students the opportunity to learn “any time, any place.”
Online learning is a process of education which includes the development of knowledge, skills, minds and characters of learners. The JMESI students’ learning outcomes include new knowledge, an enhancement and reinforcement of existing knowledge, and sustainment. In addition, the modules serve as a desk reference for future reference to be used at any time from any place.
New information
The JMESI distance learning program presents learners with a flexible site for accessing content in areas required for enhancing their leadership and command positions. Budget, contracting, human resources, and quality assurance are just some of the areas offered that are fundamental for a more effective and efficient job performance.
Enhancement/reinforcement to existing knowledge
Some individuals have a basic level of knowledge in some of the competency areas. New job duties and tasks might require additional or more in-depth information in any given subject area. The modules respond to this need.
Sustainment
Maintaining currency in any given subject area is challenging. The asynchronous format along with the “expanding content” design lends itself well to managing and applying knowledge throughout a job assignment as well as throughout a career.
Desk Reference
On any given day, members of the military medical community are asked information on subjects they may not have “mental” access to, but would be able to retrieve it quickly from a known resource.
Module content is developed by subject matter experts and is written with the adult learner in mind. Current modules provide diverse levels of learning depending on the individual’s desired depth of knowledge. The modules are created in two versions: accredited and non-accredited. Both versions are identical in content. The accredited version contains a test, which once completed, earns the individual applicable CME credit. Content is continually reviewed and updated when needed, and adjustments to content can take place often within six weeks.
The JMESI stratEgic Communication Distance Learning Program complies with the vision and goals of the 2006 Quadrennial Review, specifically Transformation Order Number 5, along with the MHS Human Capital Strategic Plan. Both documents specify the requirements for life-long learning and joint leader development for military medical personnel. Additionally, existing military medical leadership courses utilize the modules as phase one, or as an enhancement to existing curriculum. The modules provide students with more in-depth knowledge as they attend courses, workshops, seminars and symposia.
Our audience consists of members from Army, Navy, Air Force, VA, Coast Guard, USPHS, CDC and approved international students. Each student is required to complete an end of module evaluation prior to receiving a completion certificate. These evaluations not only let us know if we are meeting the mark, they often provide specific content information to add to module relevance. I can’t think of a more perfect way to describe our modules than from the words of some of our learners:
Epidemiology One
Principles and Tools
“I enjoyed this module. Very relevant since I am deployed and doing disease and non-battle injury and post-deployment health assessment every day.”
Lean Six Sigma and Balanced Scorecard
“Great CME opportunity. I especially appreciated JMESI when I was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, and getting my required CME was difficult both financially and based on time constraints.”
Conflict Management Two: Negotiation
“I enjoyed taking this course and find it very useful in my current position…. I liked having the ability to use the toolbox and download the information sheets. I have already used several for information purposes in group meetings.”
Additionally, in FY 08, we are adding critical thinking and decision-making scenarios to our distance education program. These scenarios are scheduled to be online by end of September 2008.
Students enrolled in our modules have an 83 percent completion rate; a figure exceeding most distance education programs. The technology is available, the learners have the need and the requirements, and the JMESI stratEgic Communication Distance Learning Program provides the professional and up-to-date content for these learners to achieve a level of competence in these essential skill sets.
The executive management skills identified for the core competencies are equally as essential to military medical personnel as are their clinical skills. The JMESI stratEgic communication gives this population the tools that will enhance their performance giving them the knowledge and information required to make the right decisions and plan the best way ahead. ♦
To view or enroll in the modules, visit the Website at www.jmesi.org.