FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 3, 1997

CONTACT: Michael Orenstein (202) 606-1800 worenst@opm.gov

Washington, D.C. -- The Medical and Regional Office Center of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Togus, Maine, will receive a Quality Achievement Award for improving customer service and saving tax dollars.

The award will be presented by U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Jim King during the 10th Annual National Conference on Federal Quality on:

Director King also will present Fort Benning with the Presidential Award for Quality, the governments top honor for quality improvement. The National Conference on Federal Quality convenes Wednesday, July 9 and ends Friday, July 11.

The Medical and Regional Office Center at Togus, ME, provides a full range of medical, psychiatric and rehabilitative services to veterans and their families throughout the state. Approximately 50 physicians, of whom 85 percent are board certified in 18 separate speciality or sub-speciality areas, serve the veterans community from the 142-bed facility. Despite staff reductions of 12 percent, Togus and community-based clinics have treated 36 percent more customers since 1995 and outperformed the Veterans Health Administration National Benchmark for satisfaction with quality care by 10 percent. In fact, in-hospital bed days over the past 24 months have been reduced by 40 percent without diluting patient care. Average yearly productivity results show Veterans Benefits Administration customer-service representatives field 60,000 medical-care questions, while medical professionals provide care for 128,000 out-patient visits. The Centers involvement in the community emphasizes disease prevention through smoking-cessation, heart-health and womens-wellness programs.

Media interested in attending the conference and workshops, or receiving additional information, should contact OPMs Mike Orenstein at 202-606-1800.

-End-

To OPM Home Page