Military Surgeons Saw More Readmissions After Returning From Deployment
BLUF – A University of Pennsylvania study of military physicians found that surgical patients experienced a 48% increase in readmissions during the first two months after their surgeons returned from deployment, while obstetricians performed 74% more cesarean sections, with both measures eventually returning to baseline. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining clinical proficiency during deployments and suggest Navy Medicine should consider structured return-to-practice programs, competency assessments, and gradual increases in procedural complexity to protect patient safety and sustain clinical readiness.