“Through Medical Home, the patientreceives better care and sees better out-comes through leveraging continuity ofrelationships with team members,” saidCapt. Maureen Padden, executive offi-cer, Naval Hospital Pensacola. “There isalso a greater satisfaction of the healthcare team.”

The U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicineand Surgery selected eight initial sites,including Naval Medical Centers andFamily Practice Teaching Hospitals, todevelop lessons learned and best prac-tices with the goal of fully implementingMedical Home Port throughout NavyMedicine in 2012. The ultimate target isto achieve national recognition forMedical Home Port practices from theNational Committee for Quality Assur-

A Public Affairs Publication of the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

January 2011‘Medical Home’ is Transformed atNaval Hospital Pensacola

See HOSPITAL, Page 3

MEDNEWS Items of Interest:

January marks “Navy Medicine’sMedical Home Port Initiative” -During this month, Navy Medicinetakes a look at the implementationprocess and the future of the MedicalHomeport model at Navy MedicalTreatment Facilities worldwide.

MHS Conference will be held Jan.24-27 at the National Gaylord Hotel,National Harbor, Md.

Tampa Navy Week (Jan. 22-29) -Rear Adm. Richard Vinci, BUMED-deputy chief, logistics and installa-tions, will speak to various media andcivic organizations relaying the NavyMedicine message. For more informa-tion on Navy Weeks:www.navyweek.org/tampa2001/index.

Naval Branch Health Clinic BangorBroke ground on Jan. 4 to commencea major facility upgrade and renova-tion of Naval Branch Health ClinicBangor.

Find us on Facebook. U.S. NavyBureau of Medicine andSurgery, and follow us onTwitter @ Navy Medicine

Did You Know…

The U.S. Navy Bureau ofMedicine and Surgeryselected eight initial sites,including Naval MedicalCenters and Family PracticeTeaching Hospitals, todevelop lessons learned andbest practices with the goal offully implementing MedicalHome Port throughout NavyMedicine in 2012.

WASHINGTON – Naval HospitalPensacola is revolutionizing the MedicalHome concept within Navy Medicine.From wireless technology to facilitymodifications to creating team-basedenvironments, Pensacola has takenpatient and family-centered care to anew level.

Implemented at several commandswithin Navy Medicine, the Medical“Home Port” concept emphasizes team-based, comprehensive care that isdesigned to fully meet the completeprimary care health and wellness needsof patients. In the model, patients areassigned a team of health care profes-sionals who support a comprehensivehealth care plan for the patient.

PACIFIC OCEAN - Lt. Cmdr. Kimberly Syres, right, a surgeon aboard the aircraft carrier USSCarl Vinson (CVN 70), performs a laparoscopic appendectomy in the operating room with assis-tance from Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Sajata Taylor, center, and Hospital Corpsman 2ndClass Rashan Robinson, Dec. 31, 2010. Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are on adeployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communica-tion Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans/Released)

By Valerie A. Kremer, Bureau of Medicine andSurgery Public Affairs

See PENSACOLA, Page 3

Navy Medicine’s Medical Home Portinitiative introduces a new model ofpatient and family-centered health caredelivery for primary care. This model isteam-based, comprehensive, and de-signed to fully implement the completeprimary care health and wellness needsof our patients. We anticipate increasedaccess to care for patients both in personand via electronic media – a true para-digm shift in how we provide care toand communicate with beneficiaries. Inthe coming years, full implementationof the Medical Home Port initiative willreduce overall costs in the long termand also improve population health,patient satisfaction, and readiness acrossthe board.

This month I’d like to highlightwhere we are and where we’re goingwith the ongoing phased-implementation of the Medical Home-port concept at Navy Medical TreatmentFacilities worldwide.

First let me say that we are renewingour focus on this vital initiative not justbecause most of the military and civilianhealth care community is already wellon its way towards the implementationof similar programs, but also because wewill eventually be unable to meet thecomprehensive health care and wellness

Navy Medicine’s Medical Home Port Initiative

January 2011 Page 2

needs of our patients consistently and atall Navy Medicine locations if we do not.The key challenge is that the provider-centric model does not leverage theentire health care team in patient care.This decreases the ability for providersto see the right amount of patients,enhance success, and spend timedoing the tasks which are appropriatefor the provider’s level of certificationand education.

Make no mistake. The Medical HomePort model will be implemented and willrequire a culture of change and leader-ship to ensure success. This is a ‘gamechanger’in how we have done businessin the past, but I am very confident thatMedical Home Port is the right thing to

do, is achievable, and is fully consistentwith delivering the best of patient andfamily-centered care. One of the keydifferences between civilian and militarymedicine historically is how we executecase management. We make sure webring the medicine to the patient. Wedon’t make the patient find the medicineor the doctor. We ensure our Sailors,Marines, and their families get the rightcare, when and where they need it. OurMedical Home Port model is the perfectexample of this philosophy.

A few years ago, we selected eightinitial sites (Naval Medical Centers andFamily Practice Teaching Hospitals) todevelop lessons learned and best prac-tices with the goal of implementingthroughout Navy Medicine in the com-ing years. Based on what we’ve accom-plished thus far, we know that thismodel drives out variability by imple-

SURGEON GENERAL’S CORNER

Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson, Jr.U.S. Navy Surgeon General

Capt. Cappy SurettePublic Affairs Officer

Shoshona Pilip-FloreaDeputy Public Affairs Officer

Valerie A. KremerMEDNEWS Managing Editor

Public Affairs OfficePhone: 202-762-3160

Fax: 202-762-1705

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery2300 E Street NW

Washington, DC 20372-5300

Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson, Jr.,

U.S. Navy Surgeon General

“We ensure our Sailors,Marines, and their fami-lies get the right care,when and where theyneed it. Our MedicalHomeport model is theperfect example ofthis philosophy.”

menting standards for all aspects of pri-mary care services. It ensures that care isall-inclusive and integrated with allother care provided within our health-care system. This care delivered throughMedical Home Port includes readiness,prevention, wellness, behavioral health,and disease management.

The benefits of full implementationwill be profound. Each patient will bepart of a team that includes a primarycare provider, a nurse educator, a carecoordinator, and other support staff.This model will better utilize ourpersonnel by leveraging support staff,increase our ability to diagnose and treatpatients, and keep them in our hospitalsinstead of the “network” of providersoutside of Navy Medicine. Lastly,Medical Home Port increases access toprovider and team to allow them tobetter manage the health of their popu-lation. By focusing on prevention,wellness, and disease management theycan drive down costs over time. Iencourage everyone to embrace thisfundamental change in how we providecare to our beneficiaries and do every-thing you can to assist in its full imple-mentation across the Navy Medicinecommunity. As I begin my final year, itis my honor to represent you as yourSurgeon General. Thank you for every-thing you do, but most of all thank youfor your service.

January 2011 Page 3

Tricare To Extend Dependent Medical Coverage to Age 26U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assis-tant Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - The Department ofDefense announced today its introduc-tion of the premium-based TricareYoung Adult Program (TYAP) whichextends medical coverage to eligiblemilitary family members to the age of26. Expected to be in place later thisspring, TYAP implements the NationalDefense Authorization Act (NDAA) offiscal year 2011. Premium costs forTYAP are not yet finalized, but theNDAA specifies rates must cover the fullcost of the program.

The Patient Protection and Afford-able Care Act of 2010 required civilianhealth plans to offer coverage to adultchildren until age 26. Tricare previously

met or exceeded key tenets of nationalhealth reform, including restrictions onannual limits, lifetime maximums, “highuser” cancellations, or denial of coveragefor pre-existing conditions – but did notinclude this expanded coverage for adultchildren. Dependent eligibility forTricare previously ended at age 21 orage 23 for full-time college students.

The fiscal 2011 NDAA now gives theDoD the authority to offer similar bene-fits to young adults under Tricare.

“We’ve been working hard to makesure we could put Tricare Young Adulton a fast track,” said Tricare DeputyDirector, Rear Adm. Christine Hunter.“Fortunately for our beneficiaries con-cerned about health care coverage fortheir adult children, the law signed bythe President includes opportunities formilitary families to elect this new pre-mium-based plan retroactive to Jan.1."

Beginning later this spring, qualified,unmarried dependents up to age 26 willbe able to purchase Tricare coverage ona month-to-month basis – as long asthey are not eligible for their own em-

ployer-sponsored health coverage.“This program has the potential to

extend Tricare coverage to several hun-dred thousand additional beneficiaries,”said Hunter. “The premium allows usto provide this excellent benefit to ourmilitary families while responsiblyaddressing the impact of health carecosts on the DoD budget."

Initially, the benefit offered will be apremium-based Tricare standard bene-fit. Eligible family members who receivehealth care between now and the datethe program is fully implemented maywant to purchase TYAP retroactivelyand should save their receipts. Premi-ums will have to be paid back to Jan. 1,2011, in order to obtain reimbursement.

Adults who are no longer eligible forTricare, but need health insurance cov-erage, may wish to explore the Contin-ued Health Care Benefit Program(CHCBP). CHCBP is a premium-basedprogram offering temporary transitionalhealth coverage for 18-36 months.Coverage must be purchased within 60days of loss of Tricare eligibility.

ance (NCQA). In Nov. 2009, thefirst Medical Home prototype wasestablished at Naval Hospital Pensacola,which encompassed 4,000 patients,and focused on enrollments, accessto care, staffing needs, and facilitymodifications.

“We focused on the colocation ofpractice,” said Padden. “We establishedpods, where doctors, nurses, andCorpsmen are in the same room, wherethere is cross talk - the integration of ateam based process. We moved desksout of the way, went wireless, testingwireless computers and technology,optimizing the most out of ourexisting spaces.”

Naval Hospital Pensacola initiatedseven Medical Home teams in Nov.2010 now serving 22,000 patients.The seven teams consist of three teamsin family medicine, two in pediatrics,and two in internal medicine. Residents

PENSACOLAFrom Page 1

are incorporated as part of their traininginto the Family Medicine MedicalHomes.

Pensacola further expanded theMedical Home concept to 18,300patients at its branch medical clinicsGulfport, Miss. and Millington, Tenn.,along with the Naval Air TrainingCenter (NATTC), located at the NavalAir Station Pensacola, Fla., where 8,000Sailors receive schooling.

“We have been able to test howMedical Home is relevant in not just ateaching hospital, but also at the branchmedical clinics,” said Padden.“Pensacola has shown successfully thatyou can implement Medical Home in agraduate education environment andachieve meaningful outcomes.”

Since the implementation of theMedical Home concept, Pensacola hasseen process improvements in care andimprovements in access to care.

“Now a patient can secure a same dayappointment for acute primary care andwithin two to three days for non-urgent

routine care, as opposed to seven daysor longer in most practices,” saidPadden. “We have also seen improve-ments in care. There was an increase inemergency room use in the past, andsince Medical Home has been imple-mented, we have seen a leveling off ofEmergency Room utilization and hopeto see decreases in the very near future.”

For the long term, Pensacola islooking to be in the 90th percentile inquality metrics, decrease unnecessaryhospitalization, bring enrollees backinto the direct care system from thenetwork, and determine how qualitycan be brought to the next level,explained Padden.

“We will continue to revise theMedical Home concept, adjust it, andmorph Medical Home for differentpopulations,” said Padden. “The goal isto figure out what is reasonable – howmany patients a provider can providequality care to and what staffing mixwill help them to be most successful. Itis a balancing act

January 2011 Page 4

By Deborah Kallgren, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Public Affairs

New 24/7 Child Development Center at Portsmouth is ReadyPORTSMOUTH, Va. – Dignitaries cut a ceremonial ribbon Jan.10 officially opening a new ‘round-the-clock child care center atNaval Medical Center Portsmouth. The center begins receivingchildren at 7 a.m. on Jan. 11 and will never close.

Last February, ground was broken for the 24/7 Child Devel-opment Center (CDC), a $1.5 million facility that will providehigh-quality educational and recreational programs for childrenand youth, 24 hours, seven days a week.

The NMCP CDC was created specifically to meet the uniqueneeds of service members and their families. The 24/7 programis available to all active duty military and Defense Departmentcivilians (watchstanders and shift workers) who work outsidecustomary working hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The center willparticularly be of benefit to Portsmouth-area personnelwho work the second and third shifts – times when child careis limited.

The 4,249-square-foot facility can accommodate up to 16children per shift overnight and ultimately can accommodate 36during the day, as well as drop-ins when space is available. Thecenter décor evokes a homey feeling, and has a large kitchen anddining area, play room, living room, a baby room with up toeight cribs, and boys’and a girls’rooms for up to four childrenin each room. There is also an outdoor play area.

Several parents whose children will use the center attended

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - From left, Third District Congressman Robert

Scott, D-Va.; Rear Adm. Matthew Nathan, commander, National Naval

Medical Center and former commander, Naval Medical Center Ports-

mouth; Kecia Brothers, CDC and Child Youth Program; Capt. Charles

Melcher, commanding officer, Naval Support Activity; and Rear Adm.

Alton Stocks, commander, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth cut the

ribbon of the new 24/7 Child Development Center at Naval Medical

Center Portsmouth. (U.S. Navy photo by Deborah Kallgren, NMCP

Public Affairs/Released) See PORTSMOUTH, Page 6

Navy Medicine Goes Smoke Free For the Start of the New YearBy Valerie A. Kremer, Bureau of Medicine andSurgery Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - The Navy Bureau ofMedicine and Surgery (BUMED) be-came a tobacco-free compound, Jan. 1,in time for the start of the new year.

The use of tobacco products, includ-ing all forms of smokeless tobacco arenow strictly prohibited on the PotomacAnnex property, including electronicnicotine delivery devices (e-cigarettes).

"E-cigarettes, which are not approvedby the Federal Drug Administration(FDA), are not an acceptable substitutefor tobacco cessation," said Navy Sur-geon General Vice Adm. Adam M.Robinson, Jr.

Robinson outlined guidance to allNavy medical personnel regarding thesafety of e-cigarettes in policy memo6200 dated Oct. 1, 2010.

"Those wishing to quit their tobaccouse and wish to use medications shoulduse FDA-approved nicotine replacement

products such as nicotine gum, skinpatches, lozenges, oral inhaled products,or nasal sprays," said Robinson. "Theseproducts are available to aid in a suc-cessful tobacco cessation program."

Leading up to the campus-widesmoking cessation, BUMED employeesattended town hall meetings on thetopic, which provided a variety of op-tions and information to aid in quittingtobacco use.

During the past several months,several Navy Medicine facilities havegone smoke free, an action applaudedby Robinson in alignment with estab-lishing a fit and healthy force.

"As Navy health care providers, wecan evoke positive and meaningfulchange through our own actions," saidRobinson. "Implementation of tobacco-free environments sends a powerful andeffective message encouraging our Sail-ors, Marines, retirees, family members,staff, and community to be healthy."

For more information on smoking

Smoking Cessation Tools:

Develop a strategic plan to over-come obstacles and stay on course

TRICARE’s Toll Free Smokingquit line:

- North Region: 866–459–8766- South Region: 877–414–9949- West Region: 866–244–6870

www.ucanquit2.com has manyadditional tools to help smokingcessation

- My Quit Plan- Medicines that Can HelpYou Quit

- Savings Calculator- Support Locator

cessation, go to the Naval MedicalPublic Health Center site at http://www-nehc.med.navy.mil or contact a smokingcessation program available at manyNavy Medicine medical treatment facili-ties (MTFs).

January 2011 Page 5

the ribbon cutting, including Hospital Corpsman Third ClassTamekia Tolar and her husband, Aircrew Survival Equipment-man Second Class Hezekiah Tolar III. Hezekiah works atNorfolk Naval Station and Tamekia works various shifts in themedical center’s pharmacy. She’s delighted their eight-month-old son, Hezekiah IV, qualifies for the 24/7 care offered at theNMCP CDC.

“I am ecstatic. This is a really good idea, and really, reallyneeded. I work crazy hours and now we won’t have child careissues,” Tamekia Tolar said.

The baby has been receiving day care at the New GosportCDC nearby, which is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but doesn’t fit theTolars’work schedules.

“I’m getting ready to deploy in April, and with her con-stantly changing schedule, it’s hard to find day care,” HezekiahTolar added. “The cost is based on our income, and it’s muchcheaper than outside day care.”

Stephanie White is the program supervisor at the NMCP

PORTSMOUTHFrom Page 4

CDC. She has 20 years’experience at area CDCs and NMCP’sChild Wait Center, and is ready for the new center to open. “It’svery exciting, but it’s been very tiring,” she said. IncludingWhite, the center will have eight employees to start; staff will beadded as needed.

“A lot of people have been calling and asking about the newcenter. Once they call the Child Placement Program to enroll, itshould take two weeks or less to get their child in,” White added.

The center is equipped with closed-circuit cameras to monitorevery room, and is outfitted with the latest technology. Itcomplies with design and construction requirements and energyperformance standards for new federal buildings.

To enroll a child in the 24/7 Child Development Center atNMCP or receive information on available services, contactCYP Resource and Referral at (757) 444-3670. For informationon the NMCP program, call (757) 953-7050.

The Navy currently operates 11 Child Development Centersin the Hampton Roads area including three other 24/7 centers.The Navy’s Child Development Centers are accredited with theNational Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC).

Female Engagement Team Refreshes Training in AfghanistanBy Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines with theRegional Command Southwest Female Engagement Teamconducted reset training here Jan 11-12.

The Marines are required to return to Camp Leatherneckevery 45 days to conduct reset training to give them a breakfrom their respective units and share lessons learned before re-turning to their assigned districts.

“During this reset, we wanted to focus on some of the pro-jects they have been doing,” said Master Sgt. Cherelle L. Peters-Williams, from Ithaca, N.Y., and FET staff noncommissionedofficer-in-charge.

Peters-Williams added that because the Marines are gettingclose to returning home, they are receiving finance and opera-tional security classes.

Sgt. Meredith N. Burns from West Pitteston, Pa., FET squadleader, took part in what is called a “District Deep-Dive.”The forum explains in-depth information in each district theMarines represent.

“We just found out that our district used to have women’sshuras, and we had thought that we just had the first one,” saidBurns. “The District Deep-Dive is very helpful because it givesus an insight to why my district is the way it is.”

Not only is the reset training good for exchanging informa-tion, it’s also a morale booster because the FET members do notget to see each other very often.

“They have the opportunity to talk about lessons learned,what they saw and what they could have done better,” saidPeters-Williams. “This gives them a chance to bounce ideas off

one another.”Peters-Williams said the FET Marines’mission is to talk to the

female population and see what their needs are. If it wasn’t forthe FET, the command would not really see the whole picture.They give local women a voice and impress upon them they canbe leaders in their communities.

“The FET Marines are doing a great job; we continue to beproud of everything that they are doing,” she said.

MARJA, Afghanistan - Lance Cpl. Kathryn Mannion speaks to an Afghanwoman while assigned to the Female Engagement team with RegimentalCombat Team 7 in Marjah, Afghanistan, July 7, 2010. Mannion, originallya military policeman, volunteered to participate in the Marine Corps'newest program, designed to engage with Afghan women. Mannion,24, is from Coatesville, Pa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. MeganSindelar/Released)

January 2011 Page 6

Got News? If you’d like to submit an article or have an idea for one,contact MEDNEWS at 202-762-3160, fax 202-762-1705 or Valerie.Kremer@med.navy.mil.

Naval Hospital Guam Breaks Ground on New Replacement

AGANA HEIGHTS, Guam - Navy officials participated in aground-breaking ceremony for the $158 million Naval HospitalGuam replacement project Jan. 14 aboard the installation inAgana Heights, Guam.

"Today, as we officially break ground on a new, state-of-the-art, world-class healthcare facility, we celebrate the vision thatbegan more than 16 years ago when members of the Bureau ofMedicine and Surgery started to talk about the possibility of areplacement facility for Naval Hospital Guam," said Capt. KevinHaws, Naval Hospital Guam commanding officer. "Detaileddiscussions and planning involving thousands of man-hoursand countless personnel - designers, architects, and construc-tion firms, as well as Navy facilities and Navy Medicine staff -led us to where we are today, on the brink of opening the nextchapter for Navy Medicine on the island of Guam."

Haws said the current hospital opened in 1954. Since thattime, staff have delivered more than 25,000 babies, admittedand cared for more than 100,000 inpatients and have seen inexcess of 1 million outpatients.

By contrast, Haws said when the new hospital is complete itwill incorporate advances in healthcare delivery, improve pa-tient life safety and increase efficiencies in hospital operations,while continuing to meet the full spectrum of patient and familycentered medical and surgical care for all eligible beneficiariesthroughout the lifespan.

"The completed hospital will provide 42 beds, four operatingrooms, two cesarean-section rooms and improved diagnosticand ancillary capabilities to include magnetic resonance imag-ing and computed tomography scanning suites," said Haws.

Guest speaker at the ground-breaking ceremony was Com-mander, Navy Medicine West Rear Adm. C. Forrest Faison III,who said this new facility is the embodiment of that trust.

"Navy Medicine is unlike any other health care organizationin the world for one simple reason," said Faison. "Everyone whoneeds our care; everyone who walks through our doors every-day; everyone who comes to us and needs our help is someonewho has volunteered to serve our country, or is a family mem-

ber who has sacrificed so that their loved one can serve, and be-cause of them we are free. They are truly the heroes of our na-tion."

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas Command-ing Officer Capt. Peter Lynch said the new naval hospital will becertified by the Green Building Council as a Leadership in En-ergy and Environmental Design Silver.

"This demonstrates that we have the technology and know-how to create functional, attractive and comfortable buildingsthat conserve energy, water and land without any sacrifice topatient care and convenience," said Lynch. "This environmentallysound and sustainable structure is a significant example of ourcollective commitment to preserving and protecting our environ-ment, while ensuring the highest quality care for our troops."

Contractors, Watts Webcor Obayashi A JV, will phase thework so the existing hospital remains operational during con-struction, and the new hospital will be operational before demoli-tion. Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2014.

By Catherine Cruz Norton, Naval Facilities Engineering CommandMarianas Public Affairs

AGANA HEIGHTS, Guam - Military personnel and contractors participatein a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction for anew naval hospital at U. S. Naval Hospital Guam, Jan. 14. Naval Facili-ties Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas, USNH Guam and NavyMedicine West (NMW) hosted the event. Leadership present includedRear Adm. Paul Bushong, commander, Joint Region Marianas; RearAdm. Forrest Faison III, commander, NMW; and Capt. Peter Lynch, com-manding officer of NAVFAC Marianas. (U.S. Navy photo by ReynaldoRabara/Released)

Corpsman Study Material Available from NAVMED MPT&E

Navy Medicine Manpower, Personnel, Education & Training Command (NAVMED MPT&E) has free Hospital Corpsman

advancement study material available in hard copy or online as a download. Hospital Corpsman Manual Flashcards

(NMHCMF10V1), a flashcard “quizzer,” are available via Navy eLearning and accessed via NKO. NAVEDTRA 14295A, the

Hospital Corpsman Rate Training Manual, is available at

https://www.sas.cnet.navy.mil/Login/SASLogin.aspx?redirecturl=https://www.courses.netc.navy.mil/.

For more information, contact Mr. Chris Hawkins at RTM_feedback@med.navy.mil.

January 2011 Page 7

NAMRU-3 Initiates Project to Improve HIV Health ServicesBy Darnell P. Gardner, Jr., Public AffairsOfficer, Naval Medical Research Unit-3

CAIRO - U.S. Naval Medical ResearchUnit No. 3 (NAMRU-3), in collabora-tion with the Egyptian Ministry ofHealth (MOH), initiated a Ford Founda-tion funded project aimed at improvinghealth services delivered to people livingwith HIV in Egypt.

The NAMRU-3 project team, consist-ing of Global Disease Detection andResponse Program (GDDRP) MedicalAnthropologist Anna-Leena Lohinivaand Health Promotion Specialist Dr.Manal Benkirane, first conducted abaseline survey to assess healthcareworkers’knowledge, attitudes and prac-tices related to HIV/ AIDS in Om ElMasryeen Hospital, a general hospitallocated in Giza.

Once assessed, a training curriculumwas introduced based on HIV basics,infection control and medical ethics.Emphasis was placed on the clarificationof patient rights and challenging thestigma against people living with HIV.

Cmdr. Vince Barthel, Head, Virologyand Zoonotic Disease Research Pro-gram, initiated the training by deliveringlectures on the basics of HIV transmis-sion to an assembly of physicians.

“It was great!” stated Barthel. “Mostof them were very eager to learn aboutHIV and displayed caring enthusiasmfor the welfare of those stricken by this

unforgiving illness. We, as medical pro-fessionals, are bound by an oath to pre-serve life by whatever means possible.”

After the opening lectures, healthcare professionals made up of surgeons,nurses and medical assistants were madeaware of the actual modes of HIV trans-mission. Prevention and treatment up-dates were also addressed to correct mis-conceptions about HIV infection. At theconclusion of the lectures, attendeeswere introduced to a young woman whois HIV positive. She graciously agreed toshare her experiences on the reality ofliving with HIV in Egypt.

NAMRU-3 Initiates Project to Im-prove HIV Health Services Benkiraneexplained, “It was a good opportunity todiscuss misconceptions about the dis-ease and make the health professionalsaware of the impact of discriminatingpractices. It was really great to see doc-tors who initially had shown resistanceto dealing with a person living with HIV

stand up to hug the HIV positive personwho shared her story with them.”

Currently, infection control trainingis underway, including modules on stan-dard precautions such as environmentalcleaning, invasive procedures and pre-vention of mother to child transmission.

“This training aims at providinghealth care professionals with the self-confidence to carry out proceduressafely when dealing with HIV positivepatients,” said Lohiniva. “This is one ofthe main contributors to stigma.”

A post-training survey is planned inFebruary 2011, after modules on infec-tion control and healthcare ethics arecompleted. This survey will evaluate theimpact of the intervention on healthcareemployees and determine their prepar-edness to treat people living with HIV.

The Ministry of Health wishes tomake Om el Masryeen Hospital a refer-ral site for HIV positive patients in needof surgical care.

CAIRO - Dr. Manal Bernkiranedelivers HIV awareness trainingto medical personnel from theOm el Masryeen Hospital.NAMRU-3, in collaboration withthe Egyptian Ministry of Health,initiated a Ford Foundationfunded project aimed at improv-ing health services delivered topeople living with HIV (Photosprovided by NAMRU-3 PublicAffairs/Released)

Charities Provide Relief to Bethesda’s Wounded, FamiliesBy Sarah Fortney, National Naval Medical Center Public Affairs

BETHESDA, Md. - The National Naval Medical Center (NNMC)treated more than 500 combat-injured servicemembers, each accompanied by an average of threefamily members, in 2010.

As many of the family members leave their jobsto be with their wounded service member, NNMCstaff works with several charitable groups to ensurethe needs of the families, as well as the wounded, illand injured are met.

The charitable groups provide a variety of goods and services,ranging from clothing, plane tickets, medical assistance and fi-nancial grants.

"These families aren't prepared, and when they find out [theirloved one has been injured], they drop everything immediately,some of these families are here for months, and that's just here,

then they could move on to another facility and bethere for months," said Dawn Van Skike, of the Sem-per Fi Fund. "The wounded, ill and injured are moremotivated if their family members are here. Our or-ganization helps with that."

The Semper Fi Fund is just one of the many or-ganizations helping to provide relief for troops and

their family members.The Inpatient Warrior and Family Liaison Office (IWFLO)

See BETHESDA, Page 8

January 2011 Page 8VOICES FROM THE FIELD

To keep up with Navy Medicinenews and daily updates follow us on...

Naval Health Clinic Hawaii: The Secret to our Success

By Capt. Anne Diggs, commanding officer,Naval Health Clinic Hawaii

Naval Health Clinic Hawaii has gonemore than a year without an alcoholrelated incident (this is where we knockon wood) and when this is mentionedI’m asked, “What’s the secret?” My an-swer is always the same, my Sailors!

We don’t have any ground-breakingprograms. The executive officer, com-mand master chief, and I speak aboutresponsibility to self, to each other andto the command at check-in, commandindoctrination, captain’s call, masterchief calls, weekly, at the board of direc-tors with the directors and seniorenlisted leaders, in our holiday safetymessages and the Drug and AlcoholProgram Advisor provides messages inthe plan of the week. Why are we sosuccessful? I keep going back to mysailors who are taking responsibility forthemselves, each other and thecommand seriously.

To expound, I am going to speak toan incident that occurred recently at thecommand. One evening I received a callfrom the XO explaining that one of oursailors had made a suicidal comment tohis leading petty officer (LPO), who wasthen taken by his own request to TriplerArmy Medical Center’s Emergency De-

partment. The sailor was released with afollow-up in the morning. One of oursailors had volunteered to stay with himin case he needed something.

Here’s the rest of the story! ThisSailor was so distressed he called hisLPO, who then notified the chain ofcommand with the situation. The LPOknew where his staff member lived andknew who lived close by. The LPO wasable to send a nearby shipmate to thedistressed Sailor’s apartment. When thesailor arrived at the apartment, therewas no answer and he initiated theEmergency Medical Services. Eventuallythe distressed sailor answered the door,once the police declared the situationwas stable, and asked his shipmate totake him to Tripler for help.

The LPO arrived at the EmergencyDepartment, and once the Sailor wasreleased; he took the Sailor to the bar-racks. The barracks chief woke up twomore of my Sailors, explained the situa-tion and they welcomed the Sailor intotheir room for the remainder of thenight. They stayed with him until thefollowing morning, and walked withhim for his follow-up appointment. TheCMDCM spoke to the Sailor after hisappointment and his first comment was,“I didn’t realize there were so many peo-ple that cared!” As a result this Sailor

has become more engaged and active inthe command.

This one story personifies my Sailors.They go above and beyond of what’srequired to take care of each other to bea shipmate! So the secret to our success,phenomenal sailors that not only takecare of 50,000 beneficiaries within thisregion but take pride in taking careof themselves.

For more information and trainingmaterials on the Navy Suicide Preven-tion efforts, visit Navy PersonnelCommand, www.bupers.navy.mil.

Capt. Anne Diggs, commanding

officer, Naval Health Clinic Hawaii

works with a number of organizationsthroughout the year to ensure needs aremet, said Chief Brian O'Keefe, IWFLOofficer. Some of the organizationsO'Keefe works with include theAleethia Foundation, the WoundedWarrior Project, Armed Forces Foun-dation, Soldier's Angels, United Ser-vices Organization, the Fisher House,the Oakleaf Club of Greater Washing-ton, D.C., and many others.

"I think we've done just about every-thing we could come up with, fromboarding pets to helping families fromlosing their homes. The only problemwe can't solve is the one that we don'tknow about," said O'Keefe.

NNMC is not alone in working withcharitable organizations. Navy SafeHarbor, the Wounded Warrior Battal-ion East-Bethesda Detachment and sev-eral other units routinely partner with avariety of charities to ensure a full spec-trum of support is provided to ourwounded, ill and injured service mem-

bers and their families.All organizations, including feder-

ally-approved and private organiza-tions, have an opportunity to donatetheir goods and services to thewounded, ill and injured and their fam-ily members. We are looking forward toexpanding our relationship with be-nevolent organizations as we mergewith the Walter Reed Army MedicalCenter to create a world class medicaltreatment facility for beneficiaries andtheir families. For more details, contactthe IWFLO at 301-319-6805.

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