Physician's Corner

This section discusses the MEB impact on readiness and offers a NARSUM Tool

  MEB Impact on Readiness                          Performance                          MEB NARSUM Tool

 

MEB Impact on Readiness

From the time a soldier receives a P-3 or P-4 profile, he or she is virtually lost to the unit. The unit, under great pressure to maintain a high operational and personnel readiness posture, can ill afford to have soldiers spending excessive time seeking medical treatment. Until the soldier is processed (MEB through the remaining PDES phases) and receives orders to terminate service or return to duty, the unit can not fill his or her position, thereby degrading unit readiness. This is precisely the point at which the physician can contribute to soldier health and unit readiness.

Performance

The MEB process at MAMCis a team effort. Several persons are involved with every case and therefore have an opportunity to improve overall performance. Data collected from the Fort Lewis PEB, as well as a graduate thesis on the subject of MEB processing time, indicate MAMC MEB cases average 157 days from time of referral to a MEB until the case is delivered to the PEB. The greatest amount of time is consumed in the initial phase of the MEB - treatment and diagnosis. The USAPDA reports that MAMC has a 14% case return rate from the PEB due to incomplete medical documentation. These errors can be eliminated in two basic ways.

The first is that physicians can use the MEB worksheet developed by LTC Johnstone (MAMC Orthopaedics) to complete the MEB requirements.

Click the flag to open the document in a separate window

The form basically includes all required information and eliminates the opportunity for missing information. It is recommended as an aid - not a total fix. Physicians need to recognize disqualifying injuries or circumstances, refer soldiers promptly to a MEB, and ensure accuracy and completeness in their medical reports.

The second method for eliminating errors with MEB packets is to communicate with the PEBLO involved. PEBLOs in turn are responsible for communicating with physicians to improve the process as well as review packets for completeness and accuracy before submitting them to the PEB.