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R 261532Z FEB 07 ZUI ASN-A00057000013 ZYB FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11// TO ALCOAST BT UNCLAS //N01650// ALCOAST 099/07 COMDTNOTE 1650 SUBJ: 2006 HEALTH SERVICES AWARDS A. MEDALS AND AWARDS MANUAL, COMDTINST M1650.25 (SERIES) 1. THIS NOTICE SOLICITS APPLICATIONS FOR THE COAST GUARD HEALTH CARE FACILITY OF THE YEAR AWARD, HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIAN (HS) OF THE YEAR - CLINICIAN AWARD, AND INDEPENDENT DUTY HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIAN (IDHS) OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 2006. UNITS THAT SUPPORT ANY OF THE ABOVE CATEGORIES SHOULD REVIEW AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH BELOW. THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE INCORPORATED AS A CHANGE TO CHAPTER 6 OF REF A. 2. INDEPENDENT DUTY HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD AND THE HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR - CLINICIAN AWARD ARE INTENDED TO RECOGNIZE SUSTAINED OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS IN DIRECT PATIENT CARE FOR THE CALENDER YEAR (1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2006). ONE INDEPENDENT DUTY HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD (AFLOAT OR ASHORE) AND ONE HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR - CLINICIAN AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED. THE FOLLOWING FACTORS WILL BE CONSIDERED: SICK CALL, MEDEVACS/URGENT CARE, SUPPLY, ANCILLARY SERVICES, PATIENT EDUCATION, TRICARE, PUBLIC RELATIONS, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS, MEDICAL AND DENTAL READINESS OF THEIR UNIT AND OF UNITS WITH IN THEIR AOR, AND THEIR COLLATERAL DUTIES. A. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE AWARDS, INDIVIDUALS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM CRITERIA: (1) BE A MEMBER OF THE COAST GUARD (ACTIVE OR RESERVE), A HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIAN IN PAY GRADE E-7 OR BELOW (OR E-8 IF ASSIGNED TO INDEPENDENT DUTY AFLOAT) (2) BE INVOLVED IN PATIENT CARE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE PERIOD AND (3) BE AN EXEMPLARY HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIAN. B. RECOMMENDATIONS. COMMANDING OFFICERS RECOMMENDING INDIVIDUALS FOR THESE AWARDS MAY SUBMIT A NOMINATION LETTER TO COMMANDANT (CG- 1121), VIA THE APPROPRIATE MLC (K), TO ARRIVE NOT LATER THAN THE FIRST DAY OF MAY 2007. THE LETTER MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) A NARRATIVE ACCOUNT OF THE INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVEMENTS THAT DESERVE RECOGNITION ABOVE ALL OTHER HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIANS, AND (2) A COPY OF THE INDIVIDUALS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS FOR THE YEAR. 3. HEALTH CARE FACILITY OF THE YEAR AWARD. THE HEALTH CARE FACILITY OF THE YEAR AWARD IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND CONTRIBUTION BY A COAST GUARD HEALTH CARE FACILITY FOR THE CALENDER YEAR (1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2006). A. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. THE FOLLOWING FACTORS WILL BE CONSIDERED: (1) PATIENT CARE. PROVIDING THE APPROPRIATE VOLUME AND TYPE OF HEALTH CARE POSSIBLE BASED UPON THE TYPE OF FACILITY AND THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO OUTPATIENT CARE, PHARMACY, PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS, SICK CALL, DENTAL CARE, PHYSICAL THERAPY, TRICARE ADVICE, IMMUNIZATIONS, LABORATORY, AND X-RAY SERVICES. (2) URGENT CARE. RESPONDING TO REQUESTS FOR URGENT HEALTH CARE, SUCH AS PROVIDING HEALTH SERVICES PERSONNEL FOR MEDEVAC FLIGHTS, RESPONDING TO CALLS OR RADIO REQUESTS FOR MEDICAL ADVICE, AND PROVIDING AMBULANCE SERVICES IF CAPABILITIES EXIST. (3) OCCUPATIONAL MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE AND EVALUATION PROGRAM (OMSEP). PROVIDE HEALTH CARE SUPPORT TO THE OMSEP, SUCH AS PERFORMING PHYSICALS, CONDUCTING TRAINING IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE HAZARDS AND THEIR PREVENTION, AND CONDUCTING THE HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM. (4) PATIENT EDUCATION. PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO BENEFICIARIES, THUS ENABLING THEM TO BECOME MORE INFORMED HEALTH CARE CONSUMERS. THIS COULD BE EITHER GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL TRAINING AND COULD VARY IN SCOPE FROM TEACHING A CHILD HOW TO COPE WITH HIS OR HER DIABETES TO INFORMING LARGE GROUPS ON THE HAZARDS OF SMOKING. THIS EDUCATION COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY ANY APPROPRIATE TRAINING METHODOLOGY. (5) UNIT/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ACTIVITIES WHICH BENEFIT THE UNIT/COMMUNITY SUCH AS HEALTH FAIRS, SCOUT PHYSICALS, SCHOOL PHYSICALS, PROVIDING ARTICLES DEALING WITH SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE FACILITY, OR HEALTH CARE RELATED TOPICS FOR UNIT/COMMUNITY PAPER. (6) COST CONTAINMENT. SEEKING WAYS TO CONTROL HEALTH CARE COST WITHOUT REDUCING SERVICES OR QUALITY. DESIGNING INVENTORY AND SUPPLY PROCEDURES THAT WILL ENSURE THAT MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLIES ARE PROCURED BY THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE METHOD AND USED BY THEIR EXPIRATION DATE. BEING AWARE OF THE VARIOUS SOURCES OF HEALTH CARE IN THE COMMUNITY AND USING ONLY THOSE THAT ARE REASONABLY PRICED AND OF ACCEPTABLE QUALITY. ENSURING THAT HEALTH CARE TESTS AND X- RAYS ARE PERFORMED FOR PURELY CLINICAL INDICATIONS. (7) QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. SUPPORTS AND CARRIES OUT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES INCLUDING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STUDIES. (8) CLINIC MRS AND DENCAS DATA INPUT FOR UNIT AND UNITS WITHIN THE CLINICS AOR ARE UP-TO-DATE AND READINESS IS AT LEAST 80 PERCENT. B. RECOMMENDATIONS. COMMANDING OFFICERS RECOMMENDING THEIR HEALTH CARE FACILITY FOR THIS AWARD MAY SUBMIT A NOMINATION LETTER TO COMMANDANT (CG-1121), VIA THE APPROPRIATE MLC (K), TO ARRIVE NOT LATER THAN THE FIRST DAY OF MAY 2007. THE LETTER MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT THE HEALTH CARE FACILITY HAS ACHIEVED THAT DESERVES RECOGNITION ABOVE ALL OTHER HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. (2) A COPY OF THE UNITS RESULTS FROM THEIR RECENT MLC OPERATIONAL HEALTH READINESS ASSESSMENT AND AAAHC ACCREDITATION SURVEY. (3) COPIES OF UNIT/COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES OR LETTERS FROM BENEFICIARIES THAT DESCRIBE COMMENDATORY ACTION BY THE FACILITY (IF APPROPRIATE). 4. PRESENTATION. A BOARD WILL REVIEW ALL RECOMMENDATIONS AND SELECT THE MOST DESERVING IN ALL CATEGORIES BY 11 MAY. THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND SAFETY WILL COORDINATE THE PRESENTATION OF THE HS AND THE IDHS OF THE YEAR AWARD. THE OFFICIAL PRESENTATION OF THE COAST GUARD HEALTH CARE FACILITY AWARD WILL BE HELD DURING THE NATIONAL TRICARE CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON D.C. THE AWARD RECIPIENTS, WILL RECEIVE A PLAQUE AND A CONGRATULATORY LETTER. 5. SELECTEES CHOSEN FOR THE HS AND IDHS OF THE YEAR WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY NOMINATED FOR THE LEWIS SEAMAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING OPERATIONAL SUPPORT. THIS IS AN ANNUAL AWARD FOR ENLISTED PERSONNEL PRESENTED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF MILITARY SURGEONS OF THE UNITED STATES (AMSUS). 6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED. 7. RADM PAUL J. HIGGINS, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND SAFETY, SENDS. BT
