MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY IN THE AGE OF MANAGED CARE - THE WILFORD-HALL MODEL

Military medicine is currently being overhauled through Tricare, a com prehensive, managed care program designed to reduce costs and increase clients' access to health care. This article presents reforms initiat ed by the psychologists at Wilford Hall Medical Center, the largest mi litary hospital in the world, in response to Tricare. These reforms ha ve resulted in adult, outpatient services that are immediately accessi ble, effective, and cost efficient. The Wilford Hall approach to psych ological services is offered as model that can be used in other outpat ient settings. Additionally, potential limitations of this approach to psychological care are presented.