Ambulatory visits, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2021

Area of Science:

• Military Health
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Ambulatory care visits for active component service members have historically fluctuated.
• The COVID-19 pandemic influenced healthcare utilization patterns in 2020.
• Understanding trends in military healthcare is crucial for force readiness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the trends in ambulatory care visits among active component service members in 2021.
• To compare 2021 healthcare utilization with previous years, including pre-pandemic levels.
• To assess the changes in telehealth utilization in military healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of electronic health records for active component service members.
• Retrospective review of ambulatory care visit data from the past decade.
• Comparison of visit numbers, rates, and telehealth proportions between 2020, 2021, and pre-pandemic periods.

Main Results:

• Overall ambulatory care visits in 2021 were the highest in 10 years.
• Most illness and injury categories showed modest increases in 2021.
• Telehealth visit proportions decreased to under 15% in 2021 from 19% in 2020, returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare utilization among service members returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021.
• The significant decrease in telehealth use mirrors pre-pandemic trends.
• Lessons from pandemic-era healthcare delivery can inform future strategies for disease and injury prevention.