Combining Frameworks to Improve Military Health System Quality and Cybersecurity

Abstract

Existing conceptual frameworks and commercially available technology could be considered to rapidly operationalize the use of Quality Measures (QM) within military health systems (Costantino et al. 2020). Purchased healthcare as well as digital healthcare services have paved the way for data collection from multiple information systems thus offering stakeholders actionable intelligence to both guide and measure healthcare outcomes. However, the collection of data secondary to Smart Devices, disparate information systems, cloud services, and the Internet of Medical Things (IOMT) is a complication for security experts that also affect clients, stakeholders, organizations, and businesses delivering patient care. We have combined three conceptual frameworks: (1) Donabedian’s Quality Attributes Framework (DQA), (2) The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) framework, and the (3) Healthcare and Public Health (HPH) Cybersecurity Framework (HCF). Each of these frameworks is well-tested, widely accepted, and referenced as the gold standard in delivering quality care (DQA and NAM) and cybersecurity (HCF) for healthcare. Separately, each framework provides long-used analysis, guidance, and application of quality reliable measures of healthcare services. The combined frameworksmay enhance data integrity (collection and standardized safety of data in regard to regulatory compliance). The combined frameworks also support identifying gaps in quality of care, support the prioritization of cost-effective methodologies that predictably improve patient outcomes, and support DHA’s quality measures. Finally, we offer the importance of understanding the components of quality measures in a more precise manner while maintaining information technology (IT) governance compliance.