Command teams and civilian leaders from throughout the Northern Regional Medical Command converged on Fort Belvoir Feb. 10 to attend NRMC's second senior leader training event for fiscal 2015. The four-day event focused on access to care and access to professional development, two top priorities of NRMC Commander Brig. Gen. Robert D. Tenhet and Command Sgt. Major Robert A. Velarde.
Improving patient satisfaction and access to quality, safe health care are the catalysts behind quarterly training events and the driving force behind the "Be Great with People" campaign. But, there are other objectives --leadership development at all organization levels and process improvement directly impacts patient care and services.
Ensuring our patients get an exceptional access-to-care experience is a responsibility the command sergeant major and I take very seriously," Tenhet said. "We will do all we can to assist military treatment facility commanders, and clinical and administrative staffs in achieving that goal."
The event's goals were to continue to improve organizational effectiveness by focusing on second-quarter initiatives; identifying opportunities; sharing lessons learned and best practices occurring throughout the region; understanding new resource requirements and continuing to build professional relationships.
Army Medicine's four priorities are combat casualty care; the health and readiness of the force; a ready medical force and the health of our Families and retirees.
"All are tremendously affected by access to care," Tenhet said. "Think of any important health issue. From prevention of disease and disability to the detection and treatment of health conditions, you will find quality access to care to be a key weapon in the fight for wellness and overall quality of life. Access to care may be the most critical component in a system for health, which is what Army Medicine is striving to become."
Current appointment standards for all military treatment facilities within Army Medicine are simple. Patients should be able to make a primary care appointment within two days and make an appointment with a specialty provider within 28 days. The standard is seven days for wounded, ill or injured Soldiers who are assigned to warrior transition units.
Tenhet and Velarde also want to improve wait times in the emergency department and pharmacy. The challenge to command teams with emergency departments is for patients to be seen within an hour after check in, and, for those with pharmacies, for prescriptions to be filled within 15 minutes. Both understand these are aggressive goals but are worth pursuing, as access to care does not stop at primary or specialty care.
Access to professional development was the other focus area for this quarter, with an emphasis on providing staff members, Soldiers and civilians, at all levels with educational opportunities. Gregg Stevens, Army Medicine's chief of the civilian corps, was a guest speaker and discussed the importance of education in growing the bench to secure the future of Army Medicine.
Civilian career programs develop leader skills and functional competence using career maps, training plans, and competitive professional development, he said. "Leader development plus enhanced functional training equals delivery of capability for Army Medicine 2020."
Army Medicine's FY15 training and leader development guidance for civilians include:
• Prioritize leader development for civilians
• Ensure development through the Civilian Education System
• Requires an Individual Development Plan for all civilians
In leadership for civilians and Soldiers, improvement is also emphasized during the training event and this quarter's event was no exception. All attendees received a leadership book to read before the SLTE for an in-depth discussion during the event. "Every single employee is someone's son or someone's daughter. "Like a parent, a leader of a company is responsible for their precious lives," was one of the points, or golden nuggets, discussed from the book. Leadership is difficult and must be cultivated at all levels.
"Leaders are not born, they are made," said Command Sgt. Major Reginald Crosby, Fort Meade Medical Activity. "It's not natural to put the needs of others above your own."
NRMC hosts its next senior leadership training event at Belvoir in June. The focus of the event is quality care, while not losing sight on patient satisfaction, access to care and professional development.
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