Implementation Science (IS) is the study and application of strategies that facilitate the adoption of evidence-based practice and research into regular use. IS helps Military Health System organizations to move medical research and leading practices into broad-based clinical practice and supports Defense Health Agency priorities focused on outcomes, readiness, and satisfied patients.

The Defense Health Agency's Implementation Science Branch (ISB) is a support function within the Research & Engineering Directorate with a mission to transition mature, priority research into practice. By executing carefully selected and operationalized strategies via hands-on partnerships, the ISB aims to increase adoption of evidence-based best practices and improve health outcomes. The IS team has supported several successful implementation efforts, including the Postpartum Hemorrhage Bundle Campaign and the Opioid Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Program. Implementation science is used widely across federal healthcare organizations, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Cancer Institute.

Read about successful implementation efforts, described on the IS success stories page.