Let the spirit of giving extend into the New Year with the gift of life
Happy New Year from the staff and leadership of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center!
January is National Blood Donor Month. I would like to thank all who have taken the time to donate blood in the past year, and I encourage everyone to consider making regular blood donations a New Year’s resolution during 2013. There is no greater gift one person can give to another than the gift of life.
Donations here go a long way to saving lives in combat theaters. During my tenure as the Commander of the 62nd Medical Brigade in Iraq, I witnessed first-hand the profound effect of blood donations in preserving the lives of America’s sons and daughters on countless occasions in the various emergency rooms of combat support hospitals located across Iraq, most notably the Baghdad ER . These donations helped stabilize service members with severe burns, injuries and illnesses, allowing us to transport them back to Landstuhl for further care. Blood donations are such a small and unselfish sacrifice, which allowed these services members to rejoin their loved one and often continue their service to the Nation.
One donation can save up to three lives depending on the blood type. People with all blood types are encouraged to donate whole blood every 56 days. People with an A-positive blood type are currently being encouraged to donate platelets because the need for that particular type is urgent. Platelet donors can donate as frequently as every two weeks, not to exceed 24 times a year.
CRDAMC currently has two top donors that I would like to take a moment to recognize. Cpt. Thomas Neesler, a physician in the CRDAMC Emergency Department was the top platelet donor for the medical center in the last fiscal year, and Staff Sgt. Patience Waycaster, who works in the CRDAMC Education Department, donated the most whole blood this past fiscal year. Well done Cpt. Neesler and Staff Sgt. Waycaster! Your donations epitomize the Army value of selfless service and the CRDAMC value of excellence. I commend you both. Keep up the good work!
Again, I encourage all of you to look inside yourselves and commit to making regular blood donations throughout the coming year at CRDAMC’s Robertson Donor Center located in Bldg 2250 on 761st Tank Battalion Ave. next to the Thomas Moore Health Clinic. The life you save may be a loved one’s or even your own. To donate, individuals are encouraged to walk in Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the exception of Thursdays, when Robertson opens at noon.
The Holiday Season is a Great Time for Introspection and Reflection
As we prepare for the Holiday Season and 2013, I submit it’s a great time for introspection and reflection. When I think about the things that create meaning and enrich my life, I immediately turn to my family and close friends. When I’m near them during the holidays, I am reminded of the important gifts, tangible and intangible, they have given me over the years. The gift of family and friendship enriches our lives in significant ways and provides us with purpose. However, I know all too well that for many, the holidays can be a lonely time coping with separation from loved ones or grieving the loss of loved ones. The holidays can be especially hard for those who experience loneliness and are in need.
I am a firm believer that a simple act of kindness can significantly impact the lives of many. Over the past several days, the media brought recognition to a New York City Police officer who met a homeless man on the streets of New York who wasn’t wearing any shoes. This officer, recognizing this man couldn’t have been comfortable in the freezing temperatures, immediately went to a local store and purchased some appropriate shoes for this gentleman. This simple act of kindness reminds me of a famous quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
As members of the Carl R. Darnall Healthcare System, we have done a fabulous job providing compassionate world-class medical care to our beneficiaries over the past year—one patient at a time. I want to pass along my warmest regards to each of your for placing the needs of our patients before self. During this holiday season I want to encourage you to spend quality time with your family and friends s to nurture these important relationships, which are vitally important social networks that most assuredly help us during the trials and tribulations of life.
As we approach the New Year, I would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season replete with the blessings of health and prosperity. To our beneficiaries, thank you for providing us the gift of caring for your healthcare care needs; it’s a privilege to serve each of you and your families. Ours is a noble mission and our sole goal is to provide a consistently positive Patient Experience for our Warriors, Family Members, Retirees, and Veterans. I commend the CRDAMC TEAM for their hard work and dedication in successfully accomplishing this mission.
Happy Holidays,
PDS
Col. Patrick Sargent
“Compassionate, World-Class Healthcare—One Patient at a Time”
Warrior Care Month, CRDAMC ensures success through transition
In 2008, when I was serving as the Chief of Staff for the Warrior Transition Command in Washington, D.C., the Secretary of Defense designated November as Warrior Care Month as a way to reaffirm the Army’s commitment to quality health care, education and careers for our nation’s wounded, ill and injured service members. I was intimately involved in the evolution of programs to meet that goal which are now implemented throughout the Army.
When we started this campaign we knew caring for and supporting wounded, ill and injured Soldiers and their families would be an enduring mission as well as a sacred obligation; we had been charged with creating programs that would ease their struggles while uplifting their spirits. We began working on concepts like the Triad of Care (primary care manager, nurse case manager, and squad leader), to ensure Soldiers’ cases were reviewed by a panel of experts to ensure each received appropriate care. We also envisioned the design of Warrior Transition Complexes, so that they would have safe, comfortable and appropriate living arrangements that provided easy accessibility to medical care while they recovered and transitioned either into civilian life or back to their units.
At 29 Warrior Transition Units (WTUs) and nine Community-Based Warrior Transition Units (CBWTUs) across the country, wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers have one mission: to heal and prepare for transition. Here at Fort Hood, the providers and staff of CRDAMC are committed to providing the framework of care and support to meet this mission.
Now as the Commander of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, I have the great privilege to see these programs, and others, fully implemented first hand to the benefit of our wounded, ill and injured service members. An interdisciplinary team of medical and non-medical professionals are committed to the best care and treatment of wounded, ill and injured Warriors, and standing behind them through each stage of their recovery and transition. It’s heartwarming to see our vision, hard work and efforts come to fruition, but even more heartwarming to know the truly positive impact it has all had on the lives of thousands of service members and families. I am proud of the Army’s efforts to provide high quality care for our nation’s heroes, and I embrace the opportunity to continue those efforts in the future.
Accountability – demanding from ourselves the highest in ethical and moral principles.
Accountability, as defined by the providers and staff of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, is demanding from ourselves the highest in ethical and moral principles. The importance of this value was agreed upon by the entire CRDAMC workforce because we believe our patients deserve superior healthcare and we are committed to providing it. Periodically though, each of us should take a moment to do a compass check to ensure our performance matches our stated values. Ms. Janique Parnell, social work supervisor for the Warrior Transition Brigade, summed up this idea very eloquently at a recent meeting when she said, “Each of us at CRDAMC is responsible for ensuring world-class healthcare. We have to bring our ‘A’ game every day. We must be aware of our verbal and nonverbal communication, and work to be both inspirational and motivational for our patients and our peers.”
There are many praise-worthy examples of this type of accountability happening throughout our medical center every day. Recently I read a patient ICE comment from a parent whose child was seen by Susan Gallup, a provider in the CRDAMC Pediatric Clinic. It said, “Ms. Gallup was our daughter’s provider today, and she was so competent and reassuring that we would like her to treat our daughter for LIFE! I would rate her as 100 stars out of 10.” The compassionate care this comment reflects is a perfect example of the kind of high moral and ethical accountability our providers and staff should exhibit during every patient encounter.
Yesterday I watched as a noncommissioned officer stopped in the hallway to assist a woman who seemed to be lost. He was obviously in a hurry, but he still took the time to provide the woman with the assistance she needed. It only took about thirty seconds, but it was obvious that his consideration was appreciated. On another occasion I witnessed one of CRDAMC’s medical support professionals help a wounded Soldier who was unable to push his wife’s wheelchair due to his own injuries. The CRDAMC employee went out of her way to help the couple get back to their inpatient room before she returned to her own duties. No one asked her for assistance, but she saw patients in need and helped them because it was the right thing to do. Ultimately we must all recognize that we are accountable for ourselves, our actions and our inactions. Be proud of the things you have accomplished, but also look to your left and right. There is always room for improvement.
This blog completes my in-depth look at the CRDAMC values: honor, nurture, excellence, trust, empathy, accountability and mentorship (ONE TEAM). I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts on these values with you, and I encourage you to reflect upon them often. Let them shape your daily decisions and actions. Remember, hold fast to your ethical and moral principles, not because someone may be watching, but because it is the right thing to do. You can be a catalyst for change. You can improve your environment and the environment of those around you.
Fear of failure is not what keeps you from being successful
(Preface: My last several posts have all highlighted the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center values of Honor, Nurture, Excellence Trust and Empathy. While I know Accountability is the next value that is supposed to be highlighted, I’ve decided to skip ahead to Mentorship because I believe this message is crucially important to share.)
Every morning before the command group starts its working day one of our medical center chaplains shares a thought of the day with us in order to help the medical center leadership focus our attention on our mission of caring for the patients we serve. This morning our chaplain, Capt. Jason Unsworth, shared an amazing and profound quote by Marianne Williamson titled “Our greatest fear” from her book A Return to Love. The quote reads:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make and manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Religious affiliation aside, I believe this quote strikes the heart of an issue that is common for many people. It is not the fear of failure that keeps a person from succeeding, but rather the fear of succeeding that stops them from ever attempting to achieve success. We worry about standing out in a crowd. We worry about how we are viewed by our peers. We live in fear of setting a standard that is so high that the work or contributions of those around us may inadvertently look less significant. We are so concerned about fitting in that we sell ourselves short – never fully reaching our true potential and never really understanding the positive impact we could have – not just on ourselves but on the world around us as well.
While we are all very different and distinct individuals, we will all face challenges in our lives. However, I argue that adversity should not be viewed as a roadblock, but instead as an opportunity. We should not cower in the face of challenges – we should embrace them. We must grant ourselves permission to reach for more, to expect more and to give more because if we have the ability to be great we have the responsibility to do something great. When faced with difficult situations where the easy road is a little too tempting we must remind ourselves that the challenging road – while demanding – will ultimately be more fulfilling.
So I challenge you to also take a moment every day to reflect on your own personal values, morals and goals so that you too can face the day focused on your mission and the lives you will touch. Then liberate yourself from the fear of success. Act with courage. Live to your fullest potential. Believe that you are smarter, better, and more talented than you have given yourself credit for in the past. Make a difference in the lives of those around you and teach them to see their full potential so that they may also be liberated to believe, achieve and succeed in their goals.
PDS
Col. Patrick Sargent
Serving to heal…Honored to Serve
“Compassionate, World-Class Healthcare—One Patient at a Time”
Respect and compassion for patients are the building blocks of trust
Like most Soldiers, I have had many experiences with Army medicine during my 27-year career both professionally and personally. Some of those experiences were more memorable than others, like my first medical evacuation flight, getting shots for my first deployment, my wife and I welcoming our daughter into the world, and of course, taking command of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center. While in command here I have had many opportunities to talk with the Soldiers, Family members and Veterans who receive their care here. Not all of their stories are easy to hear and not every outcome is happy, but despite their individual circumstances I regularly receive the same message. They tell me how much they respect and trust their providers, and how much they appreciate the respectful and compassionate care they have received in our facilities.
Today I read an ICE comment we received from Ms. Sheli Brown, a Family member who receives her care at the Killeen Medical Home. Ms. Brown praised her care team for their efficiency, stating, “The timeliness of the facility is what makes me come back time and again. I was really impressed today when the nurse who checked me in at the front took me to the lab BEFORE seeing the provider so that the labs were done for my appointment and I could get in and out. Those ladies are amazing.”
Trust is the foundation of good healthcare. For some patients, like Ms. Brown, trust is earned. Her care team respects that her time is valuable, and they are working hard to ensure they don’t waste it. The care team’s attention to details and consideration for the patient’s wants and needs has proven to this beneficiary that they are both professional and trustworthy.
Recently, I spoke with a family who sadly lost their baby shortly after delivery. They were heartbroken. Still, in the midst of their pain and sorrow the grieving mother told me how our Labor and Delivery doctors, nurses and administrative staff helped her find a semblance of peace by preparing a bereavement box for her and her husband. The box contained a clay mold of their baby’s footprints and a tiny bracelet that had fit on their baby’s wrist, among other items. She told me that while she was still struggling with the loss of her child, she was overwhelmed by her providers’ compassion.
This story is at the forefront of my mind as I begin my day leading our healthcare system. I thought about the level of care she had received, and the rapport her providers were able to build which allowed her, despite her loss, to genuinely appreciate their efforts. This patient told me she was grateful for the care she had received during such a difficult time in her life. I am proud to know that we have providers on our TEAM who take the extra time to help our grieving patients. They go above and beyond what is required to care for those in need of comfort. That type of human connection is priceless, and it can often be a foundation that leads to trust.
Just a few weeks ago I received a copy of a letter from CSM (retired) Harold Lewis that was addressed to Gen. Raymond Odierno, the Army Chief of Staff, regarding a surgery CSM (R) Lewis’ wife had at our hospital. In his letter he said, “In my 29 years of service I have never witnessed finer medical care… I just wanted you to know, your Army is professional beyond words. They are the finest our nation has to offer, and I just wanted you to know, what it means to an ‘old soldier’ when he witnesses excellence.”
While CSM (R) Lewis stated that his wife was recovering well; I noticed that it wasn’t the complexity of the procedure or the surgeon’s education, experience or expertise that he praised in his letter. It was the compassionate care he and his wife received from the entire surgical team that inspired him to write to the Chief of Staff of the Army. His letter clearly showed the high level of trust that has been formed with the providers and staff at Darnall.
These are just a few examples of the stories I hear all the time from our beneficiaries, and that’s how I know – without a doubt – that the doctors, nurses and administrative staff at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center are dedicated to providing superior care for all of our patients. Our commitment shows in the compassion and respect that we give to them through our acknowledgement of the humanity and dignity of each life. We will continue to build on that trust with every beneficiary we touch.
PDS
Col. Patrick Sargent
Serving to heal…Honored to Serve
“Compassionate, World-Class Healthcare—One Patient at a Time”
EXCELLENCE – team works to ensure paternal relationships, healthy start for newborns
EXCELLENCE – ROUTINELY SURPASSING ORDINARY STANDARDS IN ALL WE SAY AND DO
Throughout the Army, Fort Hood is known for its size. It has one of the largest installation cantonment areas, the most training acreage, one of the largest Soldier and Family populations, and not surprisingly one of the highest birth rates. In fact, the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Labor and Delivery staff deliver an average of eight babies every day or roughly 2,920 a year. That’s a lot of blankets, diapers and birth certificates!
Despite the high volume of deliveries and a daunting amount of birth registry paperwork, CRDAMC’s birth registration clerks, Sheryl Ratcliff-Perez and Araceli Chavez, have been recognized two years in a row for going above and beyond their duties, and commendably participating in both the Texas Attorney General’s Paternity Opportunity Program and the Texas Department of State Health Services ImmTrac program.
Ms. Ratcliff-Perez’s and Ms. Chavez’s commitment to the Paternity Opportunity Program has helped many Fort Hood newborns and fathers form lasting and legal paternal relationships. According to Texas law, a child who is born to a man and woman who are not married has no legal father. So if a baby is born to parents who are not married the CRDAMC birth registration clerks take time to talk to the parents about their parental rights and responsibilities. They also offer them the opportunity to sign the Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP), which establishes a legal relationship between the father and baby, which ensures children are eligible for child support, Social Security benefits, Veteran’s survivor benefits and military health insurance. Signing the AOP also allows the clerks to include the father’s name on the child’s birth certificate. Ms. Ratcliff-Perez’s and Ms. Chavez’s work on this initiative earned them a Certificate of Appreciation in 2010 from the Texas Attorney General’s Office and, for the first time in CRDAMC history, the Exemplary Paternity Program Award in 2011, which is the highest award a hospital can receive in this program.
The Texas Department of State Health Services also recognized the CRDAMC birth registration team in both 2010 and 2011 for their efforts in the ImmTrac program, a free, secure and confidential vaccination registry that stores children’s, Texas first responders’, and first responder family members’ vaccine information electronically through a centralized system. This information can be quite valuable if a child is ill or injured, and a parent, guardian or child care provider is unsure which vaccines the child has received. The service can also provide a copy of a child’s shot record if the original is lost and damaged.
At CRDAMC we regularly tell our patients how much we care about their health and their wellbeing. We work tirelessly to ensure that each patient receives the care they deserve, but sometimes telling them isn’t as important as showing them. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Ms. Ratcliff-Perez’s and Ms. Chavez’s actions certainly speak to their commitment to patients and to excellence. They are required to provide birth registration services for patients, and that is a very important and time-consuming job. Despite that, they have taken on the additional duty to help fathers establish and nurture paternal relationships with their newborns, in most cases forming life-long bonds. They also help parents successfully manage their new babies’ immunizations records allowing parents to provide them a strong and healthy start in life. Their hard work and dedication to patients is a true example of the standard of excellence all CRDAMC staff works to provide to our patients on a daily basis. Well done ladies! I am proud to say you are a part of the CRDAMC team. Keep up the good work.
PDS
Col. Patrick Sargent
“Compassionate, World-Class Healthcare—One Patient at a Time”
Holidays are a perfect time to nurture relationships, improve resiliency
The holidays are a special time for families and friends to be together and celebrate life’s blessings, especially in a military community where change is often the only constant. I encourage you to enjoy the holiday festivities, but also take time to build and nurture your relationships. Share a smile with a stranger, help a neighbor and create good memories with friends and family. These connections will sustain you throughout the years to come.
At Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, we know nurturing relationships builds resilience which is the key component to a strong Army Family and sustainable force. This understanding stems from the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, an Army-wide initiative highlighting five dimensions of strength including physical, emotional, social, family and spiritual. The program concludes that a person who is strong in these dimensions is more resilient despite the obstacles they may face. Fort Hood has completely embraced and implemented this initiative, and so has Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center. From substance abuse and marriage and family counseling to weight control and physical fitness, CRDAMC has a program to nurture you and your family so that you are more resilient during difficult times.
In fact, the CRDAMC Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Center is a result of this initiative. The center offers several programs including tobacco cessation, nutrition awareness and functional fitness classes including wall climbing, Tai Chi, yoga and massage therapy. Their cognitive enhancement programs help with goal setting, attention control, energy management, learning and memory. They also provide a meditation area and various spiritual, emotional and behavioral counseling options. These programs are available to all Fort Hood Soldiers and their Families. For more information about any of these programs or to make an appointment call (254) 287-8219.
Another CRDAMC system of care that is ready to help nurture you and your family is our Behavioral Health Division which includes the Resilience and Restoration Center, the Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Evaluation Services (CAPES), Family Advocacy, Medical Social Work, Social Work Care Management, Intensive Outpatient Program, adult inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services and the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic. Our providers offer a variety of treatment options including counseling, substance abuse intervention, psychiatric services, and medication management. For more information on these programs please talk to your primary care provider or contact the Resilience and Restoration Center at (254) 553-2288.
Our medical center Chaplain’s Office is also available to serve all your spiritual needs regardless of your faith base or religious preferences. CRDAMC’s chaplains are here to stand beside you through every stage of life and want to help you celebrate the joys and manage the struggles. They are located in the hospital basement near the main pharmacy, and offer regular chapel and prayer services and counseling. To request chaplain assistance or speak with a chaplain directly please call (254) 288-1757.
These are just a few examples of the wide range of programs and services we have at CRDAMC to nurture our beneficiaries and help them form stronger, lasting relationships. During this time of festivities remember, take a break from your regular holiday bustle to enjoy time with family and friends and nurture the relationships that are important to you. Be sure to make time for a little rest and relaxation for yourself too, and don’t forget that the staff at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center is here and ready to serve you.
Happy Holidays,
PDS
Col. Patrick Sargent
“Compassionate, World-Class Healthcare—One Patient at a Time”
Commander’s blog: Honor is judged by actions
When an individual stops to consider what Soldiers do, who they are and what values and morals they possess, honor is usually a virtue that comes to mind. A textbook definition of honor may include words like honesty, respect, a source of credit or distinction. All of these are correct, but they don’t really capture the essence of an honorable person.
To really understand honor you have to witness it firsthand, and I have many times. An excellent example is Dr. Daniel Tutty, a clinical social worker at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center’s Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program.
Dr. Tutty first served as an enlisted Soldier in the U.S. Army from September 1971 to June 1974. He was stationed at Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville, Penn., which was the Orthopedic and Psychiatric Center for the First Army. The hospital had a 225-bed inpatient unit that provided psychiatric services for Soldiers who were medically evacuated from Vietnam. The program consisted of a 90-day period of evaluation. At the end Soldiers were either returned to duty and shipped back to Vietnam, or turned over to the Veterans Administration System. According to Tutty our system of behavioral healthcare is much more humane now. After being honorably discharged as a Specialist5 (E-5) in 1974, Tutty worked in several mental health capacities including a private practice.
In 2005 Tutty was concerned Army behavioral health providers didn’t have the experience necessary to work with combat veterans. So he decided to leave his private practice, take an 80 percent cut in pay, and return to the Army Medical Command to care for America’s sons and daughters so he could help them learn to overcome the mental scars of war. He began at the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, Calif., where he served for two years before coming to Ft. Hood. He helped establish the Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program here in 2007. The WCSRP is a three-week intensive program that focuses on reducing hyper-arousal and reactivity which is common among Soldiers who have experienced combat. The program provides intensive counseling and helps develop effective coping and self-regulation skills.
Dr. Daniel Tutty is just one shining example of the honorable men and women who work at CRDAMC and who have chosen to serve our nation by caring for the Soldiers and Families.
Acting with honor isn’t always easy, especially when you know the right decision will not be the most comfortable, but as Dr. Tutty says, “The honor for me comes from serving the honorable men and women who have and continue to serve our great nation.”
Care and Concern—One Team,
PDS
Colonel Patrick D. Sargent
“Compassionate, World-Class Healthcare — One Patient at a Time”