Quarterly Newsletter – JULY • AUGUST • SEPTEMBER 2011
Army mEdicAl cEntEr
Growing with Fort Bragg and our community
INSIDE
PAGE PAGE PAGE
3 5 7
Joint Commission Physician’s assistant Day in the life:
accreditation residency program family medicine
process
A SpeciAl AdvertiSing Supplement
WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER | WWW.WAMC.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL | 1
Commander’s letter
general, children’s, long-term facilities here on Fort Bragg and
acute, psychiatric, rehabilitation in the Fayetteville community.
and specialty hospitals and if you are new to the area, we
378 critical access hospitals recently opened two of our new
through a separate accreditation community-based medical homes
program. Approximately 82 in Fayetteville and Hope mills. We
percent of the nation’s hospitals have been approved for a third
are currently accredited by the clinic that will open sometime
Joint commission. most military next year. the Fayetteville
treatment facilities use it as their medical Home is located at the
accrediting organization. We Woodland complex at 2350
We are grateful that you continue are proud of our staff for this Bentridge lane in Fayetteville.
to choose Womack Army medical accomplishment! please see the the Hope mills medical Home
center for your health care needs. related article on page three in is located at the millstone town
each and every one of your this issue. center at 3351 South peak
encounters with our organization drive in Hope mills. Our Family
is extremely important to us. One Blood donation continues to members are excited to see these
of our top priorities is to improve be one of our core missions at clinics in the community where
your access to quality health care Womack Army medical center they live. For more information,
and to exceed your expectations and overseas. if you or your loved please call (910) 907-6000.
in compassionate and caring ones can donate, please call the
service. We value your input and Fort Bragg Blood donor center at We look forward to continue
welcome your thoughts and ideas (910) 396-9925 or log on to serving you and your family.
on how we can better serve you www.militaryblood.dod.mil. please visit our website at
and your family. www.wamc.amedd.army.mil or
Summer is always a busy visit us on facebook at
Womack Army medical center transition time for us. this is www.facebook.com. Have a
recently underwent the Joint typically when most of our military happy, healthy summer!
On tHe cOver commission Accreditation staff makes permanent change of
OcS candidate matthew process. the Joint commission station (pcS) and moves to other
Hyten takes care of patient has accredited hospitals for military treatment facilities. let us Brian canfield
devin rodriguez. more than 60 years, and today help orient you to your Womack cOl, mS
it accredits approximately 4,168 Army medical center health care commander
(photo by cindy Burnham)
WomAck Army mEdicAl cEntEr
Growing with Fort Bragg and our community
Womack Army medical center
“growing with Fort Bragg and our community”
is published quarterly
for Womack at Fort Bragg, north carolina.
the publication is published by the Fayetteville Observer.
this quarterly publication is a product of the public Affairs Office at the appearance of advertising does not constitute
Womack Army medical center. For more information on Womack Army endorsement by the department of defense or
medical center, please call 910-907-7247 or e-mail us at Womack Army medical center.
pao.wamc@amedd.army.mil. the information is current at the time of publication.
Our staff is darlene Fair, JoAnn Hooker and Shannon lynch. circulation: 87,600.
2 | WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER | WWW.WAMC.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL
Womack undergoes joint accreditation The Joint Commission
W
omack Army medical surveys processes
center recently in these patient care
underwent the areas:
Joint commission
Accreditation process. the Joint
commission has accredited
• Environment of care
hospitals for more than 60 years, • Emergency
and today it accredits approximately management
4,168 general, children’s, long-term
• Human resources
acute, psychiatric, rehabilitation
and specialty hospitals and • Infection prevention
378 critical access hospitals and control
through a separate accreditation • Information
program. Approximately 82
management
percent of the nation’s hospitals
are currently accredited by the • Leadership
Joint commission. most military • Life safety
treatment facilities use the Joint
commission as their accrediating • Medication
organization. the joint accreditation management
is for three years. • Medical staff
Womack Army medical center has • National patient safety
been accredited for more than 15 goals
years. • Nursing
“the accreditation process validates • Performance
what we already know, and that is improvement
that we provide our patients with pHOtO BY cindY BurnHAm • Provision of care,
the highest quality and the safest The Quality Service Division includes (standing) Jean Brown and Brenda Hallet and
(sitting) Patricia Roman-Guardiola and Linda Hayes. treatment and services
care possible,” said michelle rose,
chief of Quality Services division • Record of care,
at Womack Army medical center. the deputy commanding general was ravaged by several devastating treatment and services
“Six surveyors over a period of five of Xviii Airborne corps, mg tornadoes.
rodney Anderson, welcomed the • Rights and
full days looked in every nook and
surveyors with an overview of Fort “We are very proud of our military, responsibilities of the
cranny to replicate care provided
Bragg’s mission and gave them an civilian, contract and red cross individual
from the patient’s view.”
introduction to the diverse patient staff members who continue to • Transplant safety
every staff member from population that Womack Army provide our community with high
housekeeping to the commander medical center serves. quality health care in a competent • Point of care testing
is subject to be interviewed and and compassionate manner,”
their credentials reviewed by the “the surveyors had an opportunity canfield said.
surveyor. to visit the Hope mills medical
Home and were very impressed
“the survey is unannounced, there with the community-focused care
is no way to study for the test and provided,” canfield said.
the only way to pass the test is to
provide quality, safe care on a daily patients in the community are
basis,” rose said. “By earning full now able to receive care in the
accreditation last week, we are community where they live and
confident that all of our patient care where their children go to school,
delivery systems exceed all criteria.” thus making access to care
convenient and flexible. the Joint
“every staff member directly commission surveyors were able
contributed to the success of the to see just how ready Womack is
survey,” said cOl Brian t. canfield, to adjust to the impact of natural
commander, Womack Army disasters, because the survey
medical center. began on monday after Fayetteville
WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER | WWW.WAMC.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL | 3
Womack has elite
residency program
W
omack Army medical
center has recently
become one of the
Army’s six clinical and
Operational psychology residency
(cOpr) post-graduate training
programs for officers holding
doctorate degrees in psychology
(phd or psyd).
the newest program joins other
Army affiliated cOpr programs
at tripler Army medical center,
madigan Army medical center,
Brooke Army medical center,
Walter reed Army medical center
and d. d. eisenhower medical
center.
pHOtO BY cindY BurnHAm
three officers are currently CPT (Dr.) Matthew Brooks asks CPT (Dr.) Barbara Merchant about a project as CPT (Dr.) Christian Merchant takes notes.
participating in the residency
program, and Womack’s program
(Survival, evasion, resistance,
is planning to expand to four next
and escape) psychology and
year. the post-doctoral residents
performance enhancement.
are selected competively from
interested applicants graduating
the 12-month, full-time residency
from one of the united States
focuses primarily on adult mental
Army’s five American psychology
health services, operational
Association accredited clinical
and occupational consultation
psychology internship programs.
and assessment services. the
these individuals are active
residents receive a wealth of
duty uniformed officers, who are
knowledge to prepare them
assigned to the residency program
to function completely and
on official military orders.
independently in a variety
the residents train in clinical and of clinical, occupational and
operational psychology. they consultative settings in and outside
spend six months at Womack Army the Army setting.
medical center’s department of organizational capabilities, assignments at any military
Behavioral Health and then rotate “Womack has the only American differing cultures and a variety installation,” said cOl (dr.) Frank
across the installation, spending psychological Association of duties offer the psychologists christopher, deputy commander
a majority of the remaining six Accredited program in both clinical countless opportunities to advance for clinical Services at Womack
months at the united States Army and Operational psychology,” said their skills,” ingram said. “Fort
cdr (dr.) victoria ingram, u.S. Army medical center.
Special Operations command Bragg has 10 percent of the
(uSASOc). public Health Service, deputy Army with a mixed population of Womack Army medical center
chief of Behavioral Health at Soldiers.”
While at uSASOc, the residents’ is proud to offer this advanced
Womack Army medical center, the
training is focused on learning “When the residents complete level of psychological education
cOpr program director.
skills related to operational the program, they are eminently in support of our Soldeirs and
psychology, i.e., Special Forces “Our accreditation is for seven prepared to take the most supporting organizations across
Assessment and Selection, Sere years. the variety of units, demanding clinical and operational Fort Bragg.
4 | WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER | WWW.WAMC.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL
Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP)
T
he interservice physician
Assistant program (ipAp)
includes students from
the Army, Air Force,
navy and the coast guard. the
ipAp curriculum consists of two
phases. phase 1 is the didactic
phase at Fort Sam Houston in
San Antonio, texas. phase 2 is
in a clinical setting in one of the
military medical centers across the
country, which includes Womack
Army medical center at Fort
Bragg. in phase 2 the students
put into practice what they learned
in the classroom during phase 1
while they rotate through different
specialty and subspecialty clinics.
they are precepted and mentored
by physicians and physician
assistants who are subject matter
pHOtO BY cindY BurnHAm
experts in their field. Dr. Asim Raja, right, views x-rays with CWO William Kilgore, a resident in the Interservice Physician Program.
the students are a combination
of officers, warrant officers Additionally, the students have a physician Assistants). they must the ipAp is currently ranked 13th
and officer candidates (non- four-component directed study pass this difficult exam in order to nationally according to the 2011
commissioned officers.) they course. the first component is a practice as a certified physician u.S. news and World report.
rotate through the following master’s level paper presentation assistant not only in the military Womack Army medical center,
clinics: general surgery, where they discuss their thesis but in a civilian setting as well. along with phase 1 and other
orthopedics, podiatry, that they completed during phase phase 2 sites, have a goal to
1. the second is a professional there are currently 19 students in
occupational therapy, physical become ranked on the top five
topic of benefit for the physician the phase 2 program at Womack
therapy, behavioral health, ent in the near future by developing
assistant profession. the third Army medical center. Fourteen are
(ear, nose and throat), allergy, students to become future
is a medical topic of personal currently rotating through various
dermatology, ophthalmology, leaders and confident physician
interest to the student. the fourth clinics; five recently graduated and
obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, assistants.
component is a culmination of the newly commissioned officers
family medicine, radiology and
their professional attributes based are awaiting their attendance “We train them to represent the
emergency medicine. the internal
on their performance throughout to the Basic Officer leadership
medicine and long term care professions of arms, medicine
phase 2. upon successful course at Fort Sam Houston prior
rotations are done through the and teaching, and to provide the
veterans Administration (vA) completion of phase 2, they all to going to their first duty stations
highest quality of health care while
hospital in Fayetteville. receive a master of physician as pAs.
in a quality learning and teaching
Assistant Studies (mpAS) degree environment,” said cOl (dr.) Frank
the students have two additional from the university of nebraska “Our students are highly qualified
to treat our patients because of christopher, deputy commander
elective rotations, of which medical center (unmc).
their well- rounded education and for clinical Services, Womack
cardiology and operational
Additionally, the officer candidates experience,” said mAJ (dr.) Amelia Army medical center.
medicine (working with a
practicing physician assistant and warrant officers are duran-Stanton, the ipAp clinical
coordinator at WAmc. “We hope to the Womack Army medical center
on Fort Bragg) are the most commissioned as first lieutenants.
incorporate everything they learn ipAp phase 2 website can be
popular. the phase 2 students are Once unmc and the ipAp confirm
their completion, they are able into delivering the best patient care. accessed through www.wamc.
required to perform at least 160
to take the pAnce (physician they are also required to maintain amedd.army.mil/dme/gme/ipAp.
additional emergency medicine
Assistant national certifying a higher standard of conduct For more information on becoming
hours outside of their specific
emergency medicine rotation, exam), a computer-based, and professionalism during their an Army pA, this link has up-to-
perform at least 120 procedures multiple-choice test administered program because not only are date information on how to reach
and complete at least 1,200 by the nccpA (national they students, they are also in the this goal: www.usarec.army.mil/
patient encounters. commission on certification of military during their matriculation.” armypa/.
WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER | WWW.WAMC.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL | 5
Womack trains future Army optometrists
W
omack Army medical
center (WAmc) has
the Army’s newest
Optometry residency
program. the Army’s other
one-year programs are located
at Brooke Army medical center
and at West point. Optometry
school is four years (following
undergraduate preparation), and
leads to the doctor of Optometry
(Od) degree, and the residency
is a one year program. currently,
completion of a residency
program is optional; optometrists
who graduate from an accredited
school of optometry and pass
national and state licensing
boards are fully capable of
independent practice.
this is the inaugural year for the
Womack Army medical center
residency in primary eye care.
the program recently hosted pHOtO BY pAmelA HYmer
a team from the Accreditation CPT (Dr.) Bret Lehman checks a patient’s vision.
council on Optometric education,
who accredited the program for department, traumatic brain
a seven-year term. currently, injury (tBi) clinic, pathology
Womack has one resident in the clinic, dermatology clinic and
program, cpt (dr.) Bret lehman. refractive eye surgery clinic. Other
opportunities include military
“the current resident is the first
medical training, including the
optometry resident to participate
combat casualty care course,
in the program,” said ltc
and participation in humanitarian
(dr.) Adrienne Ari, chief of the
missions. this year lehman spent
Optometry clinic and the director
two weeks in the dominican
of the Optometry residency
republic with a medical team,
program. “it is similar to medicine
providing eye care to hundreds of
fellowships.”
patients who otherwise would not
the resident spends most days get care.
at Womack seeing patients.
interested Army optometrists can
However, one of the more exciting
apply for residency programs
opportunities for the resident
through the medical Service
is his weekly clinical day at the
corps’ long term Health
university of north carolina,
education training Board.
working in the ophthalmology
Application materials are due
clinic. At unc, the resident trains
in February for a July start the
in advanced medical contact
following year. the board results
lens fittings, participates in grand
are published in June, one year
rounds, and has an opportunity
prior to the start date to allow
to work with ophthalmology
time for reassignment. the results
subspecialists and residents.
for the current board should be
Additional rotations at WAmc released shortly with the name of
include the emergency the 2012 resident.
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A day in the life of a
Family Medicine
Resident
W
omack Army medical government. Students are
center is home to on active duty and receive
the largest Army the pay and allowances
Family medicine of a second lieutenant (or
residency program. Yearly, eight ensign) while in medical
to 11 residents graduate from the school. the education is
three-year Accreditation council valued at approximately
for graduate medical education $200,000 for the four years,
certified program. medical and results in a post-
residents may work up to 80 hours residency service obligation
per week providing care to our of five years.
beneficiary population.
if a student participates
the Army hosts Family medicine in the Health professions pHOtO BY cindY BurnHAm
residencies at Womack Army Scholarship program, the CPT (Dr.) Michael Arnold takes care of patients Donald and Beatrice Blair.
medical center, Fort Belvoir, carl student may go to any
r. darnell Army medical center, accredited university that internal medicine, surgery and 27 to 30 residents going through
Fort Benning, eisenhower Army awards the medical doctor (md) surgery subspecialties, in both the the program. each resident
medical center, madigan Army degree, and their commitment outpatient and inpatient arenas. maintains an enrolled patient
medical center and at tripler Army to the Army (following specialty “We train the residents to give our panel during their residency and
medical center. training) is for four years. the Army patients the most up-to-date and delivers to their patient panel
will pay 100 percent of their tuition
advanced medical care available,” comprehensive patient-centered
Applicants are selected for for a graduate level education plus
said mAJ (dr.) Angelita callahan, care.
participation in the residency a generous monthly stipend of
residency director for the program.
through a national “match” $2,000.
We have 11 faculty members that
program that attempts to take After the three years of residency, are trained in family medicine. All
upon acceptance of the
the needs of new medical school they graduate and are eligible to of the faculty members have years
scholarship in either program,
graduates and matches those to take the national board certification of experience and are chosen to
prospective physicians become
the needs of the Army. exam for family medicine. if they
commissioned officers with the be part of the faculty.
pass the two-day intensive testing,
Students may utilize the rank of second lieutenant (or
then they become board certified “the members are hand chosen
department of defense’s ensign) and begin their military
family physicians. At that time, for this program based on their
scholarship program, the Health service. they are promoted to
they will be assigned to units and knowledge and their clinical
profession Scholarship program, the rank of captain (or lieutenant)
clinics throughout the Army, and skills. they supervise inpatient
to attend civilian medical school when they receive their doctor of
most of them will deploy within the wards, they are responsible
or they may attend the uniformed medicine degree.
first year after graduation. for the residents during their
Services university of Health
As a new resident, they serve clinical rotation, and they teach
Services at Bethesda, md. “most will be sent to iraq and
their first year as an intern, then procedures in family medicine
two years as resident physicians. Afghanistan serving as unit
if they attend the uniformed physicians working side-by-side to include: minor skin surgery,
they spend this time doing gynecological procedures,
Services university of Health with combat medics saving lives,”
intense clinical training in family vasectomies, circumcisions and
Services, which is the only said callahan.
medicine, emergency medicine,
federal medical school, the tuition cardiac stress testing,” added
obstetrics and gynecology,
is completely paid for by the each year Womack has a total of callahan.
WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER | WWW.WAMC.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL | 7
OBGYN residency coming soon
W
omack Army medical center council for graduate medical education,
has been approved as a new site the organization that provides accreditation
for an obstetrics and gynecology for medical residency programs in the
residency. this will be a four- united States. this initiative will provide our
year program that will train physicians in all patients with state-of-the-art care and allow
aspects of routine and complicated obstetric the training for u.S. Army physicians in this
and gynecologic health issues. Additionally, specialty at the Army’s busiest obstetrics and
they will receive training in the subspecialties gynecology program.
of maternal fetal medicine, reproductive
endocrinology and infertility, gynecologic
oncology and urogynecology.
With the exception of maternal fetal medicine,
Fort Bragg will be the only facility in the
Maternity Fair
region for such specialized care for women. Saturday, September 17th
Womack’s inaugural residency class will start
from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
with three residents at the first year level and
two at the second year level. In the clinic mall.
three resident physicians per year will For more information call
be authorized at Womack. this program 907-7349 or 907-6198.
received its approval from the Accreditation
8 | WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER | WWW.WAMC.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL