Medical Facilities Win Tricare Customer Satisfaction Awards

The awards recognize customer service excellence provided to service members and their families in 2003, officials said.

Branch Medical Clinic Naval Training Center, San Diego, won the award for ambulatory care in the continental United States.

Darnall Army Community Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas, received the customer satisfaction award for community hospitals in the continental United States.

The 59th Medical Wing, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, earned the continental United States medical center award.

U.S. Naval Hospital Roosevelt Roads, Ceiba, Puerto Rico, won the customer service award for military treatment facilities outside the continental United States.

Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, Fort Polk, La., won in the obstetrical care category.

Tricare Europe and Tricare Northeast, Region 1, both received most improved region awards.

Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, presented the awards. "Our transition to the next generation of Tricare contracts and our enhanced focus on customer satisfaction make these awards more important than ever in signaling DoD's commitment to customer service," said Winkenwerder.

Some 3,300 military and civilian health care professionals are gathered at this week's conference to discuss Tricare programs, policies and initiatives; receive the latest information on the next generation of Tricare contracts; and highlight health care achievements for the previous year, officials said. The conference theme is "Tricare: World-class, Worldwide. Celebrating a Decade of Military Service."

"We can indeed be proud of the accomplishments we have made during the past decade," said Winkenwerder. "We are moving forward in new ways as we fulfill our dual obligations of ensuring force health protection and medical readiness for deployed forces while also providing daily health care to beneficiaries at home."

Army Lt. Gen. James B. Peake, Navy Vice Adm. Michael L. Cowan, and Air Force Lt. Gen. George Peach Taylor Jr. presented the Surgeons General Awards for outstanding customer service support.

Guthrie Medical Department Activity, Fort Drum, New York, received the Army Surgeon General's Award from Peake in recognition of excellence in customer service, quality care and operational productivity during the high operations tempo of the war on terrorism.

The Navy Surgeon General's Award, "The Matthew J. Bourgeois Muddy Boots Award for Excellence in Force Health Protection," was presented by Cowan to the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va.

The 92nd Medical Group, Fairchild AFB, Wash., was honored by Taylor with the Air Force Surgeon General's Award in recognition of excellence in mission support to the wing, stellar customer service and patient satisfaction results.

(Courtesy of Tricare Management Activity.)