Maj. Gen. Jimmie Keenan discusses the concept of High Reliability Organizations

By Master Sgt. Anthony Elliott, PRMCJanuary 26, 2015

Maj. Gen. Jimmie Keenan provides Leader Development
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Jimmie Keenan, United States Army Medical Command, Deputy Commanding General-Operations, provides Leader Development training to all levels of leadership within the Pacific Regional Medical Command (PRMC), at Tripler Army Medical Center, Ja... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maj. Gen. Jimmie Keenan with 2nd Lt. Melissa Davis
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Jimmie Keenan, United States Army Medical Command, Deputy Commanding General-Operations, discusses the concept of High Reliability Organizations with 2nd Lt. Melissa Davis, Medical-Surgical Nurse, Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), at TAMC... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maj. Gen. Jimmie Keenan with Sgt. Mark James
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Jimmie Keenan, United States Army Medical Command, Deputy Commanding General-Operations, recognizes Sgt. Mark James, Medical Logistics NCO, Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), during a presentation by Keenan at TAMC, for his efforts in deve... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

HONOLULU, HI -- Maj. Gen. Jimmie Keenan, United States Army Medical Command (MEDCOM), Deputy Commanding General -- Operations (DCG-O) used her visit to the Pacific Regional Medical Command (PRMC) as an opportunity to address all levels of leadership with a Leader Development presentation, here, on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015.

Among those in attendance were Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent, Commanding General, PRMC, Col. David Dunning, Commander, Tripler Army Medical Center, and Col. Bret Ackermann, Commander, 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support).

Keenan's main topic of discussion for the Leader Development presentation was MEDCOM's commitment in developing High Reliability Organizations (HRO) of medical care throughout Army.

This commitment is geared toward insuring the safest and highest quality healthcare possible.

"We must avoid 'top down' safety management through the empowerment of all staff members", Keenan told the audience, refering to Army Medicine as a whole.

This empowerment means that any staff member, regardless of their position within a facility, has the ability to bring to attention any potentially dangerous or threatening situation in order to preserve the safety of patients and staff.

Keenan demonstrated her topic and solicited thoughts by using her audience to answer thought provoking questions; calling upon everyone from the most experienced providers to yet unproven junior officers to show that each have the same authority when it comes to patient safety.

"We all have an obligation to each other; we have an obligation to our patients and all of those entrusted to our care", Keenan stated.

At the end of her presentation Keenan recognized several Soldiers from throughout the region for their excellent performance and commitment to care within the PRMC.