Vol. 25
No. 10
www.cnic.navy.mil/bethesda/
March 14, 2013
Eye Docs Teach Combat Trauma Management By Sharon Renee Taylor WRNMMC Journal staff writer Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) ophthalmologists Army Col. Raymond I. Cho and Maj. Marcus Colyer presented health care professionals with an overview of combat eye trauma as part of the nine-day trauma symposium lecture series held at the medical center last month. Both shared their expertise and insight to help providers treat patients with either combat or civilian-related eye injuries. Trauma to the eye and its associated structures account for a significant number of combat-related injuries, according to the book “Combat Casualty Care: Lessons Learned from OEF and OIF,” published by U.S. Army Photo the Department of the Army, Office A Soldier wears protective eyewear, which prevented injury from of Surgeon General in 2012. shrapnel. Despite widespread implementation of combat eye protecCho, the director of oculoplastic tion, trauma to the eye and its associated structures account for a and orbital surgery at WRNMMC, significant number of combat-related injuries, according to a book on deployed in support of Operation combat casualty care published by the Army in 2012. Iraqi Freedom from 2005 to 2006,
and contributed to “Lessons Learned from OEF and OIF.” He explained incidence of combat ocular trauma has shown a steady rise in frequency over the last century of warfare. Ocular trauma accounted for less than 1 percent of total battle injuries in the Civil War, and increased incrementally through World Wars I and II. The rate of combat ocular trauma more than doubled by the Korean War, and rose steadily to reach 13 percent by Operation Desert Storm. “In recent conflicts, combat ocular trauma stabilized in the 10 to 15 percent range. A lot of that may be due to eye protection which has been widely implemented,” Cho said. “This is a significant percentage of potentially debilitating injuries.” He shared statistics for traumatic eye injury in the civilian population. “A large percentage (31 percent) of these is due to blunt objects,” said Cho, who explained only a very small percentage is due to gun shots or explosions. “In combat situations,
See EYE page 10
Canines Help Warriors Rehab With ‘Doga’ By David A. Dickinson WRNMMC Journal staff writer
In the search of new ways to help wounded warriors, some health care providers have reached back to the ancient art of yoga. Andrea Lucie, a recreational therapist and yoga instructor at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) at Naval Support Activity Bethesda, is one such provider who works with wounded warriors using traditional therapy. Now, she has added “Doga,” a form of yoga incorporating canines, to her therapy modalities. Service dogs are known to help with anxiety under many circumstances, and their assistance is no different with yoga, Lucie explained.
Army Staff Sgt. Benjamin Floyd uses Doga, working with his service dog, Huff, to help in his rehabilitation. “I’ve done very limited yoga before. This [Doga] certainly has been a very unique bond for me.” The Golden Retriever seems to know exactly what humans around him need, Lucia explained about Huff. “He’s very intuitive and knows when you need him. He will impose his presence by coming up to you and putting his paw in your lap.” Lucie said she has observed Doga comes naturally to certain dogs. If she sees a patient needs to work on arm strength, she will place the canine in a position in which the patient will have to reach for the dog. “You are accomplishing the pose and the stretching,” the therapist
See CANINE page 10
Photo by Andrea Lucie
Army Staff Sgt. Benjamin Floyd uses “Doga,” working with his service dog, Huff, to help in his rehabilitation.
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The Journal
Bethesda Notebook
Commander’s Column During these uncertain times in our Nation, it may be easy for some to lose faith. Also, your unfailing dedication to serving others, our Wounded Warriors and their families, day after day, may lead to forgetting about the need to care for yourself. At the Nation’s Medical Center, as you relentlessly provide quality care to our Nation’s heroes and their family members, I want to remind you that it is equally important to look out for our shipmates, wingmen and battle buddies. We must continue to ensure our lifestyle is one of health and wellness, so we can continue what we do best. This may be especially difficult for many of you who may be away from your loved ones, but I assure you, you are never alone at Walter Reed Bethesda, where we are all one family – military, civilians, contractors and volunteers. If you are experiencing an emotional or financial crises or suspect a colleague may be, please take a moment to talk with someone who is qualified to assist. Here at the Nation’s Medical Center, we have resources to assist you if you are in crisis. Chaplains from our Department of Pastoral Care are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days at week at 301-295-1510, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., or via the Command Duty Office at 301-295-4611 after hours. The Department of Pastoral Care provides inpatient visitation, confidential pastoral counseling, and a devotion line at 301-295-4055. There is daily Catholic Mass, as well as Protestant, Hindu, Muslim and Jewish services. Our Resiliency and Psychological Health Service at Walter Reed Bethesda, provides coping strategies for employees. They can be reached at 301-400-1974 or
Published by offset every Thursday by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md. 20877, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Navy, under exclusive written contract with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services. Contents of The Journal are not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of Navy. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or Comprint, Inc., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without re-
Patient, Family-Centered Care Briefing
WRNMMC-Resiliency@ health.mil. The Fleet and Family Support Center offers free financial counseling for all service members, federal employees, contractors and family members. They can be reached at 301-3194087 or ffsc@med.navy.mil. The Employee Assistance Program works in partnership with the resiliency program, and is available to work with civilian employees in confidentiality on a variety of issues, including stress management. For more information, call 301- 400-0077. Our dedicated behavioral healthcare providers are also available to lend support in times of need. The Behavioral Health Clinic may be contacted at 301295-0500. Let me also stress to you that suicide is never the answer. If you, or someone you know, are in emotional distress, please act immediately to get help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. The Military One Source is also available at 1-800-3429647 or www.militaryonesource.mil. Suicide prevention begins with us. Early recognition and treatment are key. Look out for each other. We are one team, one family, and must all work together to keep each other safe and provide a supportive environment at all levels. Take your well-deserved time off and don’t be afraid to ask for help or for a break. Always remember, What You Do Matters here at the Nation’s Medical Center, but more importantly, You Matter! Commander sends, Rear Adm. Alton L. Stocks MC, USN Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
gard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Office, Naval Support Activity Bethesda, Md. News copy should be submitted to the Public Affairs Office, Building 11, lower level, Room 41, by noon one week preceding the desired publication date. News items are welcomed from all installation sources. Inquiries about news copy will be answered by calling 301- 295-1803. Commercial advertising should be placed with the publisher by telephoning 301-921-2800. Publisher’s advertising offices are located at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md. 20877. Classified ads can be placed by calling 301-670-1700.
Jennifer Sweeney, a consultant with the National Partnership for Women and Children, based in Bethesda, will discuss health care quality management standards with Walter Reed Bethesda staff and patients on March 20 at noon in the Clark Auditorium. Discussion will focus on the relationships between health care quality standards, including Partnership for Patients, and Patient and Family Centered Care, and how they support and strengthen each other in the delivery of quality patient health care excellence. For more information, contact Terry Sellars at 301-400-2791, or ellen.t.sellars.civ@health.mil.
Upcoming NSAB Town Hall Meeting
There will be town hall meetings at each installation in the region beginning next week. The subjects include impacts of sequestration, furlough, RIF, VERA/VSIP, and FY14-16 outlook. Adm. Patrick Lorge, Commandant, Naval District Washington (NDW); Wendy Blankenship,the Director of NDW Total Force Manpower; and others will be presenting. The Naval Support Activity Bethesda town hall meeting will be held on March 19 at 1 p.m., in Building 51.
Women’s History Month
The U.S. Army Band “Downrange” performs March 21 at 11:30 a.m. in Walter Reed Bethesda’s America Building atrium in celebration of Women’s History Month. For more information, call Sgt. 1st Class Jason Zielske at 301-400-3542, or Chief Hospital Corpsman Oluyinka Adefisan at 301-295-6482.
Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bethesda Commanding Officer: Capt. Frederick (Fritz) Kass Public Affairs Officer NSAB: Joseph Macri Public Affairs Office NSAB: (301) 295-1803
Journal Staff Staff Writers
Managing Editor WRNMMC Editor
MC2 John Hamilton MASN April Beazer Sarah Marshall Sharon Renee Taylor Cat DeBinder David A. Dickinson Jeremy Johnson MC2 Nathan Parde Bernard Little
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Office of Media Relations 301-295-5727 Fleet And Family Support Center 301-319-4087
WRNMMC Ombudsman Julie Bondar
443-854-5167
NSAB Ombudsman Jojo Lim Hector
703-901-6730
Visit us on Facebook:
Naval Support Activity Bethesda page: https://www.facebook.com/NSABethesda Walter Reed National Medical Center page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walter-ReedNational-Military-Medical-Center/295857217111107 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Uniformed-Services-University-of-the-HealthSciences/96338890888?fref=ts
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Nurses Recognized for ‘Extraordinary’ Care By Bernard S. Little WRNMMC Journal staff writer Trumpeting the value of nurses at the Nation’s Medical Center, Command Master Chief Terry Prince, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) senior enlisted leader, joined the rest of the WRNMMC community in saluting its “extraordinary” nurses during the quarterly DAISY Award ceremony on Feb. 21 in Memorial Auditorium. Prince said the tunnel connecting Building 11 to the hospital at WRNMMC was built during the 1940s specifically so nurses, coming from the nurses’ quarters formerly in Building 11, had a covered walkway to the hospital. “That this hospital, and the builders of this outstanding health-care facility, thought so highly of nurses that they built an underground tunnel for those nurses to transverse from their living quarters to the hospital, speaks volumes about what nurses do.” Prince added that nurses, “with superhuman efforts,”
Photo by Bernard S. Little
Army 2nd Lt. Angela Mansingh (left) Army Capt. Sarah Haller and Lt. j.g. Stephanie Rosholt were named Walter Reed Bethesda’s quarterly DAISY Award winners for November, December and January, during a ceremony on Feb. 21 in Memorial Auditorium. help heal the minds, bodies, hearts and souls of people with miracles. “You represent the best in all of us,” he added. “You’re our direct bedside link to our most precious asset … the people we serve – our patients and their families.”
Public recognition is important in building morale and showing respect, which is what the DAISY Awards are all about, Prince explained. He said, like the beauty of a daisy, a symbol of the DAISY program, nurses provide beautiful care in
the face of disease, illness and injury. “You bring hope and healing to patients and families.” More than 40 individual nurses, as well as the nursing teams from two departments, were honored during the DAISY ceremony. Three
earned the DAISY Award for November, December and January – Army Capt. Sarah Haller (5 Center), Army 2nd Lt. Angela Mansingh (5 East), and Lt. j.g. Stephanie Rosholt (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), respectively. Haller, nominated for the award by “a grateful patient,” was described as “a practitioner of well-being, warmth and healing.” Also nominated by an appreciative patient, as well as the patient’s daughter, Mansingh was characterized as “a nurse who would brighten the day with professionalism and caring. If there was a picture in the dictionary of a great nurse, her face would be there.” A patient’s grandmother, who is also a nurse and DAISY Award winner, nominated Rosholt for the award. “I was very impressed with the NICU, and this nurse [Rosholt] is the best of the best. This nurse was professional, compassionate with empathy and [possessed] a caring attitude. The depths of touch, and the positive at-
See NURSES page 8
Warrior Café Offers Respite from the Daily Grind By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John K. Hamilton NSAB Public Affairs staff writer Naval Support Activity Bethesda’s (NSAB) Warrior Café is pulling out all the stops for its patrons to bring them a one of a kind dining experience that normally wouldn’t be found aboard a military installation. “I think it’s a great atmosphere,” said Jack Slattery, food and beverage manager for the Warrior Café and NSAB. “It’s very wide open and very bright. I think the meals are above and beyond what might be normally expected at a military food operation. I wanted to make sure that this was completely separate from the thought process of
a galley or mess hall, so we try to keep it neighborhood café style. I think we’ve been successful and we just want to continue to improve on that.” One thing the Café is getting more involved with is authentic themed meals from countries around the globe. “We try to be as authentic as possible,” said Slattery. “Instead of doing the standard Asian/Pacific Heritage month, Native American Heritage Month or Black History Month, we want to recognize all of those but we want to do a lot more. Talking to the chef, Gilbert Baboulene, and also my assistant, Nick Gordillo, we came up with a thought of: every payday Friday we’ll do crab cakes. I think that has become a staple and a lot of people look forward
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John K. Hamilton
Ivory Dixon, left, a cook at the Warrior Café, and Tamika Perkins, a food service worker, prepare items for the lunch menu at the café recently. to that. In between those Fridays, we want to do an ethnic meal and we’re just picking them randomly. We started off doing South African and Caribbean and
we try to incorporate as much of the crew that we have working here. We have a lot of employees from the Caribbean and throughout and we let them come up
with dishes. It’s not just the cooks themselves that prepare the meals, but some of the food service workers will come in and do some portion of the cooking. So, we took their expertise and applied that as well. “As we move forward, our next [themed meal] is going to be Greek, Slattery added. “We’ve set tentative dates for March 22. For the month of April we’re going to be doing Indian and Italian cuisines.” Slattery said more than 26 years in the military food industry have taught him a lot about recognizing certain months by planning an elaborate meal. He wants to expand that and shed some light on the months that get overlooked. “In the military, there are
See CAFE page 7
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The Journal
WRB Corpsman Named OPNAV Sailor of the Year By Sarah Marshall WRNMMC Journal staff writer One of Walter Reed Bethesda’s own, Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer 1st Class Jonothon Tarkowski, was recently named Sailor of the Year (SOY) by the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV). Later this spring, he will compete at the highest SOY level Sailors serving shore duty Navy-wide. Petty Officer Tarkowski was first named Walter Reed Bethesda’s Sailor of the Quarter during the third quarter of 2012. He then competed for and won the medical center’s SOY competition in December, enabling him to participate in the National Capital Area (NCA) SOY competition. Competing against top Sailors from the region – Patuxent River, Annapolis, the Navy Yard and
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Quantico – he was named NCA’s SOY. He then advanced to the Navy Medicine SOY competition at the beginning of February, competing against corpsmen from Navy Medicine West, Navy Medicine East, Navy Medicine Education and Training, and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery SOY. Again he came out on top. As Navy Medicine’s SOY, he competed against 11 Sailors, serving in shore duty assignments around the fleet, of various specialties, and was selected as one of the top five finalists serving ashore, as SOY for Navy Direct Report Shore Command, also referred to as OPNAV. In April, he will compete at the highest level for first class petty officers at the Navy Shore SOY competition. If selected, he will be
Photo by Sarah Marshalle
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s (WRNMMC) Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jonothan Tarkowski was recently named Sailor of the Year (SOY) for the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV). Pictured from left to right: WRNMMC Chief of Staff Army Col. Ramona Fiorey, Command Master Chief TerSee OPNAV page 9 ry Prince, Tarkowski, and WRNMMC Commander Rear Adm. Alton L. Stocks.
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NEX, NMCRS, AER Team Up for Annual Fund Drive By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Parde NSAB Public Affairs staff writer The Navy Exchange (NEX) Bethesda is teaming up with the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) at Naval Support Activity Bethesda (NSAB) by offering a coupon to support the NMCRS fund drive. “The Navy Exchange Service Command has partnered with the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society to support their annual drive,” said Rico Macaraeg, public relations manager for the Navy Exchange Northern District. “When a patron donates or buys a coupon for $5, they are eligible for 10 percent off our entire stock of fine jewelry; 20 percent off apparel, shoes, watches and sunglasses; and 30 percent off our already reduced cl e a r a n c e items.” In the first two weeks that it’s been offered, the NEX Bethesda has sold more than 400 coupons. The coupon will only be redeemable on April 22-23. In the meantime, all proceeds from the coupon sales will be delivered to the NMCRS to support the program, said Macaraeg. “At the time of purchase, our computer system will scan the coupon and automatically designate the money saved in that purchase to be donated to the NMCRS fund.” The coupons apply to all purchases on a single ticket and carry a maximum discount of $250, said Macaraeg. He added that NEX staff is very excited to be involved with base programs and have the opportunity. “We’re raising money for the drive, but we’re also creating awareness for a program that benefits a lot of Sailors and their families in times of need,” he said.
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Parde
Helena Stone, right, wife of a patient at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, is offered a Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) coupon at the Navy Exchange Bethesda by cashiers Dwyann Lambert, left, and Jovitta Smith. Proceeds from the coupon sales will be donated to the NMCRS to support its annual fund drive and assist Sailors and Marines who are in need of financial aid. The NMCRS is also teaming up the Army Emergency Relief (AER) at NSAB to meet the needs of Soldiers, Sailors and Marines this year, said NMCRS Bethesda Director Gillian Connon. “As a joint branch command, we may have Soldiers and Sailors working in the same department. So, we are equipping our volunteer staff to be dual-trained, talk to both sides, and hand out contribution forms for both NMCRS and AER,” said Connon. She said that the goals for both organizations and their fund drives this year are the same. “The first goal of fund drive season is 100 percent contact,” said Connon. “We want
to know that every Soldier, Marine and Sailor out there has had the opportunity to learn about what we do. And once you know about us, you know where you can go for help. Then, our second goal is providing the opportunity to donate.” Any donations made will be added to a fund that is used to meet the needs of service members who may be facing an emergency financial situation, said Connon. “We are here to help with emergent needs, such as car repair, emergency leave, household setup, and rent.” Dennis McMillen, who manages the AER program at Walter Reed Bethesda, said what they offer is very similar to the NMCRS. “We’re a nonprofit
organization outside of the military or the government, and we receive our funds from individual contributions during our fund campaign every year, and also from other organizations, businesses and the local community,” he said. “This helps to
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supplement the fund, so that we can turn around and give it all back to Soldiers, family members, retirees and widows; active duty and reserve, Guard – everybody within the Army footprint.” The NMCRS and AER’s annual fund drives have already begun and will last through May 15, said McMillen. To show how the funds are appropriated, he shared a financial breakdown of last year’s drive. “We brought in $17,700 last year, and the NMCRS brought in approximately $36,000. By way of comparison, the NMCRS issued out $410,000 and we issued out $259,000 worth of assistance last year.” A quick glance at these figures will reveal that considerably more money is offered to service members in need than is raised in the annual fund
drives, but McMillen emphasized that’s not the point. He stressed that a key focus of the NMCRS and AER is to educate the service member about how to manage money better in the future. “After they see us, a member might walk out with a little bit of money in their pocket, but hopefully, if we did our job, they are going to be a little smarter financially, and may not need to use our services again.” The NEX Bethesda will offer the NMCRS discount coupons until April 23. The NMCRS and AER offices at NSAB are located on the 1st floor of Building 11. For any questions about the NMCRS Bethesda, a representative can be reached at 301-2951207. For inquiries about the AER, contact McMillen at 301-4001994.
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The Journal
A Day at the Fitness Center
Patrons at the fitness center swim laps under the watchful eye of a lifeguard Monday morning. The pool is open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Building 17. Hospital Corpsman Chadwick Johnson practices on a punching bag at the fitness center.
H o s p i t a l Corpsman 1st Class Marcelo Rodrigues uses a chest press maPhotos by Jeremy K. Johnson chine in the fitness center Fitness center patron Brian Magid (right) sinks a ball weight room. during a one on one coaching session with Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Michael Edmonds.
Bringing Your Lunch in is Still Cool By 2nd Lt. Amanda Vaughan Dietetic Intern Remember each summer before school started when you went to get those dreaded school supplies as a kid? The only thing that got you to that store was the promise of a new lunchbox. It was important to pick a cool one, one that no one would make fun of. I still remember my favorite one from second grade, a plastic Lion King lunchbox with a matching thermos. Now in the Army I have traded that Lion King lunchbox for a GI Joe one, and I will give some menu ideas and food safety tips showing why packing your lunch is still cool! Lunch should provide about one third of your daily nutritional needs. You can
find your specific needs using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate program. For most people, lunch should include 1-2 servings of whole grains, and a serving each of fruit, dairy, protein, and vegetables. So, how can these guidelines be incorporated into a packed lunch? A sandwich on whole grain bread with low fat meat and cheese topped with some vegetables like lettuce, onion, and tomato is a great choice. A small piece of fruit, the size of your palm, is one serving of fruit. Add some veggie sticks and low fat dip for a complete meal. A container of low fat yogurt can be included for a snack during the day. Another option is a salad, loaded with all your favorite fruits and vegetables and
topped with low fat shredded cheese. Pack a low fat dressing in a separate container. This allows you to add just enough dressing, reducing your overall fat intake. Not to mention that your lettuce will still be fresh and crunchy when lunchtime finally comes! For a grain and protein, you can have crackers with peanut butter as a snack during the day. Leftovers from dinner the night before can be packed the next day for lunch as well. Remember to include all your food groups: whole grain, vegetable, fruit, protein, and dairy. You can heat the food up before packing it. Or, you can take cold leftovers from the refrigerator and pack them cold in your lunch box. That brings us to food safety. Temperature control is
the key to keeping foods safe. You can pack the food already hot in a thermos. A research study done in England showed that the best way to use a thermos is to fill it with boiling water and let it sit for a couple minutes. This will heat the thermos itself. Then, you can pour the food in, as hot as you can make it. This will make it more likely that the food will stay safely hot until you eat it at lunch. If this seems impractical, you can bring the foods cold, and heat them up at lunchtime. Of course, the best way to make sure the food stays cold until you eat it is to keep it in a refrigerator all day, at work, at school, or wherever you are. But the same English study I talked about with the hot foods
also looked at the best way to keep foods safely cold during the day. When using cold foods, lunch should ideally be packed the night before and left in the refrigerator. This not only keeps the food cold, but also chills the lunch box itself. Similar to pre-heating the thermos with boiling water as discussed above, keeping the lunch box in the refrigerator pre-chills it, and the food will more likely still be cold when lunchtime comes. Another way to make sure the food stays safely chilled is to include a large blue ice style ice pack. Small ice packs do not keep the lunch cold until lunchtime, but the large block will. The other factor in food safety is how you clean the
See LUNCH page 10
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Joint Commission Mock Survey Team Visits WRNMMC By Terry Sellars Performance Improvement Joint Commission consultants visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) Feb. 25 to March 1, for a mock Joint Commission (JC) survey of the Nation’s Medical Center. The surveyors visited several outpatient clinical areas and inpatient wards to assess compliance with the 2013 Joint Commission Accreditation standards. During the visit with leadership and staff, the JC provided educational information and identified strengths and weaknesses at WRNMMC. The week ended with a comprehensive report to the WRNMMC command leadership. Dr. Paul Hamann, a physician with JC resources who served as one of the surveyors during the mock survey, said he was “impressed with the positive engagement of leadership, and approachability of the staff he encountered [at WRNMMC], as well as their commitment to improve processes for their patients.” The unit-based improve-
CAFE Continued from 3 always three or four months that we really truly recognize, which results in so many other groups being left out that have fabulous foods,” said Slattery. “We want to tap into the other ones you don’t hear so much about. We’re probably going to be doing Russia in the months coming up and we will probably save Germany for the October time frame. It is just something that drove us to be better and we are always looking to improve what we are doing here.” Also new on the horizon for the Warrior Café, is the Daily Grind coffee shop, due to open at the end of March. “The coffee shop should be completed by March 22,” said Slattery. “Right now, we’re just waiting for the
ment projects, progress with integration, Mother/ Baby Program, projects prioritizing resource management at WRNMMC and reduction of hall clutter, were among the most notable strengths at Walter Reed Bethesda, the surveyors mentioned. In addition to Hamann, the surveyors included Navy Capt. Peter Roberts, a physician at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va.; Lt. Cmdr. Toni GreenMcRae, a JC fellow with the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED); Lt. Col. Jorge Carrillo, a pharmacist and JC fellow with the Military Vaccines Agency; Navy Capt. Joanne Adamski, a dentist and JC fellow with BUMED; and Michael Kuechenmeister, of JC resources. WRNMMC successfully completed its first Joint Commission survey in March 2012. The Joint Commission is a U.S.-based non-profit organization that surveys more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States for possible accreditation. According to its website, JC’s mission is “to continuously improve
water and electrical hookups to take place. But as with everything, especially in construction, there are bumps in the road or things you can’t foresee. I already have the people hired and staff ready to go for those positions. Once everything is installed and implemented, I will take two or three days to do some training. We are aligning ourselves along the lines of any coffee shop that you might see. [However] we’re not using any of their products specifically. We are keeping everything open; we want the freedom to use any specialty coffee that comes our way.” “We’re going to have specialty pastries and my pastry chef, Chris Phillips, is coming up with a lot of other products,” Slattery added. “It’s all stuff you would see at a specialty coffee shop. We certainly should be rolling by the end of March and I expect it is
Journal file photo
Surveyors during last week’s mock survey at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), noted the positive engagement of leadership, approachability of the staff, and WRNMMC’s commitment to improve processes for their patients as a few of the strengths at the medical center. every two years. Mock JC surveys are held between cycles to assess standards of care, customer service, patient and staff safety, readiness, and other JC accreditation measures.
health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest
quality and value.” All health care organizations who are members of the Joint Commission are subject to a three-year accreditation cycle, while laboratories are surveyed
going to do very well. Folks have already approached me and told me that they have been waiting for something like this.” Patrons of the café are excited about the new changes soon to take place. “The Warrior Café is much better than most of the [military dining facilities] that I’ve been to; my experience with the Café has been good,” said Dante Terronez, director of the Navy Wounded Warrior Safe Harbor Program for Naval District Washington and Warrior Café patron. “The staff is very friendly, the food offerings are good and they have a lot of variety. They also seem very committed to helping out others.” For more information or to find out what’s cooking at the Warrior Café log keep an eye out for the menu located in the daily postmasters.
Brandon Adams, a cook at the Warrior Café, seasons chicken breast to be served during lunchtime at the café.
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John K. Hamilton
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NSAB Establishes First Junior Enlisted Mess By Master-At-Arms Seaman April Beazer NSAB Public Affairs staff writer
Junior enlisted members of Naval Support Activity Bethesda (NSAB) came together for the first meeting of the NSAB Junior Enlisted Mess (JEM) on Feb. 8. The Junior Enlisted Mess was established at NSAB on Dec. 22, 2012 to give Sailors who are of rank E-4 and below a chance to enjoy what they do, said Religious Programs Specialist 3rd Class John Leitzinger, president of the Junior Enlisted Mess, who oversees all of the group’s meetings and events. “I thought it was a good opportunity to implement something that would benefit E-4 and below Sailors and get more people involved, so it’s less of a nine to five job and more of enjoying what you do,” said Leitzinger. “If you do something you love, you never have to work a day in your life.” Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Demario Stackhouse, creator of NSAB’s Junior Enlisted Mess, organized the group as a means to boost the spirits of the command.
Photo by Master-At-Arms Seaman April Beazer
Master-At-Arms Seaman Apprentice Jason Phillips and Master-AtArms Seaman Cassandra Garcia listen as the president and vice president discuss future events at a recent meeting of the Naval Support Activity Bethesda Junior Enlisted Mess. “I wanted to create the Junior Enlisted Mess to give E-4 and below a chance to create morale within themselves as a junior community, as well as morale with the command,” he said. “It’s giving E-4 and below a voice,” said Stackhouse. When Stackhouse sat down to draft his ideas for the JEM, he had
high hopes for the command to come together and work as a team. “At the time, I was an E-4 and I knew what it was like to come up in rank and not have the morale, or feel like you don’t exist as a junior Sailor,” he said. “At the end of the day, I feel like the work environment is a whole lot better when everyone can have fun and conduct business together,” said Stackhouse.
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titude of this nurse, were priceless,” the nominator stated. Rear Adm. Alton L. Stocks, WRNMMC commander, praised the nurses for the skills, care and compassion they provide at the medical center. He stated nurses are invaluable to WRNMMC accomplishing its mission, and said nurses have an extra special meaning to him because the grandmother who raised him was a nurse; his wife is a nurse; his daughter is enrolling in nursing school; and in selecting his chief of staff for WRNMMC, he chose a nurse, Army Col. Ramona Fiorey. Wanting to turn the loss of their son, J. Patrick Barnes, into something positive, Bonnie and Mark Barnes established the DAISY Foundation in 2000. DAISY stands for Disease Attacking the Immune System. Patrick succumbed to the auto-immune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) at age 33 in 1999. “Throughout Pat’s hospitaliza-
Chief Master-At-Arms Marty McQuagge, NSAB’s senior enlisted leader, shared his opinion of the new organization. “The establishment of a Junior Enlisted Mess at NSAB is a significant milestone for the command that will improve communication at the deckplate level, foster camaraderie across different work centers, and give Sailors an opportunity to be a part of something larger than themselves,” said McQuagge. A prior member himself, McQuagge has his own history with the JEM. He said, “Speaking from personal experience, having previously served as an active member of a Junior Enlisted Mess myself, it better prepared me for my eventual transition into the Chief ’s Mess, mainly because I had the experience of working with others to reach common goals.” As president of the JEM, Leitzinger encourages NSA junior enlisted members to join. “It is a great opportunity to get [away from] what you normally do and meet more people,” Leitzinger said enthusiastically. “It’s too easy to get bogged down. Have a little bit of fun! Have some pride in what you do, because everyone is important and everyone has an important role to play here.”
tion, the family was impressed by the clinical care Pat received, and [was] overwhelmed by the level of compassion and kindness his nurses brought to the bedside,” said Cmdr. Rosemary Perdue, of the WRNMMC nursing department and DAISY Award Committee. “They came to understand that the communication and attention to Pat were a very important part of the care nurses provide. As a result of their experience, the Barnes family believes nurses are the unsung heroes of our society, and deserve far more recognition than they receive.” Perdue said there are now more than 1,300 health-care facilities celebrating their nurses with the DAISY Award, and more than 30,000 nurses have been honored for their “extraordinary care.” She added 71 nurses at Walter Reed Bethesda were nominated for the DAISY Award for November, December and January. “These individuals were nominated by patients, family members and colleagues.” For more information about the Walter Reed Bethesda DAISY program, call Joan Loepker-Duncan at 301-319-4617.
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OPNAV Continued from 4 meritoriously promoted to chief petty officer during a ceremony at the Navy Memorial later this summer. “To be chosen among such great first class petty officers and such great leaders to help guide the future of our Navy – it still hasn’t sunk in, and I’m not sure if it will. It’s such a great honor to be nominated, and selected as the winner,” said Tarkowski, leading petty officer (LPO) of the Cardiac Telemetry Care Unit. Just days after he went before the OPNAV SOY selection board for the oral competition among the top five finalists, Tarkowski was called into the office of the Walter Reed Bethesda Commander, Rear Adm. Alton L. Stocks, where he learned he was selected as OPNAV SOY. “I wasn’t expecting it. My division officer, Chief Stephen Pierle, said, ‘You need to report to the admiral’s office,’” Tarkowski recalled. “At that point I had no idea.” At first, he thought he was going to learn he didn’t win and, perhaps, was going to be let down gently. He said, “Once I arrived and saw all of my mentors … I got the suspicion that it was because I had won.” “I’m amazed. I’m just overjoyed and humbled,” he told the senior enlisted leaders gathered in the commander’s office that day. Tarkowski expressed his gratitude for their support, and for the support he has received from a number of junior Sailors and peers throughout the command, which has kept him motivated. Stocks congratulated Tarkowski, informing him that now, “the competition’s going to get stiffer.” The commander explained he was debriefed by the OPNAV SOY selection board after the competition, and was told there wasn’t a question Tarkowski couldn’t answer – and not only did he give all the right answers, he did so very professionally. “Excellent job,” Stocks said. What helps him absorb such a vast array of Navy knowledge? Lots of studying and repetition, Tarkowski said, though some of it is trivia, such as the number of links on the rope of the insignia of the USS Chief (MCM 14) – one of the questions he answered correctly - 84 links. “I enjoy learning, not only about the Navy, but history in general,” he said. He also believes, “our traditions are very vital to the Navy: where we’ve come from since we started in 1775, all the way up until where we are today, and where we’re going to be in the future. Those traditions paved the way. It’s important that you learn and pass those traditions onto the junior folks.” As LPO, Tarkowski leads more than 20 Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen, in a 26-bed cardiac recovery inpatient ward, and ensures accurate tracking of $2 million in medical equipment and a supply budget of $250,000. Since March 2012, he has also served as a career counselor at the command, mentoring more than 250 Sailors and 300 Soldiers. “Whether staying in the military, or if you decide to get out after 10 years, you need to set yourself up for success no matter where you go. By doing those basic things, then you can achieve whatever dreams you have,” Tarkowski said. He practices what he preaches by staying involved in numerous command activities, helping with the Command Climate Survey and fundraisers for the Hospital Corps Ball, and sitting
Thursday, March 14, 2013 in on several Blue Jacket of the Quarter award boards. “HM1 Tarkowski represents all of us in Navy Medicine and now, every Sailor in Navy Direct Report Shore Commands,” said Walter Reed Bethesda Command Master Chief Terry Prince. “His selection is a strong message that the future of the United States Navy is in good hands. His selection adds greater validity to the incredible work that our enlisted Sailors in Navy Medicine do every day.” Prince continued, “When a Sailor like HM1 is recognized for his leadership and performance, it elevates the entire command … The command is judged by its leaders. HM1 Tarkowski is that leader – a shining example of excellence who, by virtue of his commitment, brings us all up.” Having worked closely with Tarkowski over the last year, Chief Hospital Corpsman Stephen Pierle has seen the Sailor’s dedication first-hand.
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“Tarkowski is one that I can easily go to and get the answer and get what I need from him, pretty much before I even get the question out of my mouth,” said Pierle, a senior enlisted leader in the Directorate of Nursing. “He’s very smart, and goes above and beyond what he needs to do. He’ll go out of his way to find an answer for somebody, and get back to them. A lot of junior Sailors look up to him for that. The sky’s the limit for him. I’m very proud of him.” In July, Tarkowski will return to sea duty, reporting to the Marine Aircraft Group 26 in New River, N.C. As for the rest of his career, he doesn’t want to stop pursuing his goal of making rank, he said. “My aspirations are to become a master chief,” Tarkowski said. No matter where he goes, or where he serves, he said he will be taking care of junior service members.
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EYE Continued from 1 it’s quite the opposite.” The ophthalmologist said the vast majority of combat eye injuries are due to explosions, such as high energy projectiles and improvised explosive device (IED) blasts. “Ocular trauma is ocular trauma,” Cho said. “In a combat situation, it’s just to a more severe degree and in a very special environment.” Combat ocular trauma is more complicated, and likely to involve more than one body system compared to the civilian sector, so accommodations and modifications in treatment may need to be made, explained Colyer, a vitreoretinal surgeon. High energy projectiles cause explosive ocular ruptures, globe lacerations, as well as severe tissue damage or loss, Colyer said. Blast and fragmentation eye injuries are sometimes accompanied by associated craniofacial injury along with multi-system trauma. Medical personnel at care echelon levels I (medic or battalion aid station) and II (forward surgical team) play an important role in identifying open globe injury and protecting the eye from further injury, Colyer
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CANINE Continued from 1 explained. “The patient and the dog both feel the connection.” Floyd, who was injured in Afghanistan in 2011, will soon return to his home in Amarillo, Texas, and plans to continue to work with a service dog. “It’s an oxytocin release when you’re petting the dog,” he said of his bond with Huff. “I can feel the relaxation through his body.” She teaches Doga from her heart and intuition, explained Lucie, who has also taught equine therapy.
LUNCH Continued from 6 lunch box itself. Soft-sided, insulated lunch boxes are quite popular now. The instructions say to clean them by wiping with a warm wet cloth. However, this method was shown to be the least effective for making the bag clean. While the cloth removed most visible spills, harmful bacteria remained. Lunch boxes cleaned in the sink with the other dishes or in a dishwasher were cleaner. This is important to keep in mind when initially choosing and purchasing your lunch box. Lunch boxes should be easy to clean by hand or in a dishwasher. Lunch
explained. Health care providers at these levels can determine if the globe is open and if there is chemical exposure, or orbital compartment syndrome. They can also determine if the patient has decreased vision, pain, double vision, lid laceration or any other reason they should see an ophthalmologist. Patients with combat eye injuries sometimes experience corneal scarring, glaucoma, traumatic cataract, retinal detachment and intraocular foreign bodies as a result of their ocular trauma, Colyer said. New techniques and innovations emerge from the study of combat ocular trauma, according to Colyer. For two years, he studied how to use an ophthalmic endoscope, which involves utilizing a one-millimeter camera, to operate in a two centimeter space. The technique allows the eye surgeon to repair eyes otherwise not repairable. He said studies are under way to develop a retinal prosthesis. The Vision Center of Excellence (VCOE), headquartered at WRNMMC, integrates vision care in the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs health care systems. Colyer said the VCOE is forming an eye trauma registry that will help determine what’s needed in the areas of research and ophthalmologic regulation. “Some people have westernized the practice of yoga,” she said, drawing a distinction between what she teaches at NICoE to that in the general public. “This is calming, soothing and takes the edge off. It may be a fad in the studio community, but not here. “At NICoE, we are introducing a variety of integrative medicine therapy modalities to our patients, allowing them to choose alternative treatment options that they may respond to better than traditional interventions,” the therapist added. For more information about NICoE, visit www.nicoe.capmed. mil. boxes should be big enough to have a large ice pack in addition to the lunch. This will ensure that the home-packed lunch is safe to eat. Bringing a packed lunch is a cool option with healthy foods kept at a safe temperature. A healthy lunch includes 1/3 of your daily needs: a whole grain, fruit, protein, and dairy serving. To make this easy, we discussed a few menu ideas such as a sandwich, salad, or dinner leftovers. For food safety, food needs to be kept at a safe temperature, either cold or hot, and the lunch box itself needs to be washed well; preferably like you wash your other dishes. Follow these guidelines for a cool alternative to eating out!
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