Name
#91 Strengthening disability evaluation through weekly PEBLO engagement at NMRTC Corpus Christi
Content Presented On Behalf Of:
Navy
Session Type
Poster
Date
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Start Time
5:00 PM
End Time
7:00 PM
Location
Prince Georges Expo Hall E
Focus Areas/Topics
Policy/Management/Administrative
Learning Outcomes
1. Describe the challenges faced by NMRTC Corpus Christi in managing DES processes without dedicated leadership and continuity.
2. Explain the structured weekly PEBLO engagement model and its role in reducing MEB stage timelines.
3. Identify effective strategies to streamline case delegation, improve NARSUM processing, and enhance communication across PAD, legal, and PEBLO teams.
4. Apply lessons learned from tri-service collaboration to strengthen disability evaluation processes at their own commands.
5. Evaluate the impact of structured engagement on improving readiness outcomes and sailor advocacy.
Session Currently Live
Description
The Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Corpus Christi faced significant challenges in sustaining effective oversight of the Disability Evaluation System (DES) due to staffing gaps, tri-service coordination, and the absence of standardized supervisory processes. Without a Patient Administration Officer or a dedicated PEBLO (Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer) supervisor, continuity of operations suffered, and cases frequently experienced delays during the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) stage. To address these concerns, a structured weekly PEBLO engagement process was implemented. This included dedicated review sessions of all ongoing cases in the MEB stage, creation of a tracking system, assignment of new cases to available PEBLOs, and enterprise-level discussions with legal, medical, and administrative stakeholders. This systematic approach fostered shared understanding, accountability, and timely action. Notably, the intervention achieved an 86-day improvement in MEB processing timelines from August 2023 to March 2025. Key factors contributing to this success included building effective partnerships with Army and Air Force counterparts, streamlining communication between PAD officers, PEBLOs, and legal teams, and leveraging tri-service PEBLO support. Further, process refinements such as appointing contact representatives, enhancing delegation of cases, and addressing bottlenecks in NARSUM (Narrative Summary) processing led to sustainable improvements. For example, coordination with NMRTU San Antonio reduced NARSUM turnaround times from over 40 days to five days or fewer. This presentation will share how these process improvements directly enhanced sailor and marine readiness, improved cross-service collaboration, and strengthened patient advocacy. Participants will gain insight into leadership strategies, change management, and operational practices that can be adapted to similar commands navigating complex DES challenges.