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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The preparation of this Implementation Guide has drawn upon theory, published literature, and field experience in the AMEDD/RAND demonstrations for
guideline implementation. We have used the theory and published literature to
ensure that the guide is evidence-based, but we believe the most important
contribution to this document has been the valuable information the AMEDD/
RAND Guideline Implementation Project (see Introduction) has generated on
implementation practices in the military environment. We extend our appreciation to the numerous individuals, from commanders to front-line clinic staff,
who have put forth an extraordinary amount of commitment and hard work in
the AMEDD demonstrations.
We are particularly pleased to be able to distribute this guide to MTFs across
the DoD. The content of the guide has benefited from the hands-on experiences
of front-line guideline implementers at Army MTFs and we are confident that
the implementation process described will be readily applicable to MTFs in the
other DoD services.
Many individuals have been involved in the production of the Implementation
Guide, helping to make it a more useful product. We wish to thank Dr. Jill Yanchick, LTC Kathryn Dolter, MAJ Geralyn Cherry, and other AMEDD personnel
for their helpful feedback in reviews of an earlier draft. We also acknowledge the
efforts of the leadership team at MEDCOM who have guided this project and
have worked in active partnership with RAND in conducting the demonstrations
and developing tools to assist the MTFs in their implementation activities. Their
collective commitment to effective application of guidelines to daily practice has
created an environment that encourages participants to think and work creatively; this guide is one product of that environment.