Page 13 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior, April 2019

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High Desert Warrior 13 April 5, 2019
News
Weed Army Community Hospital, Department of Behavioral Health, excels during its 2019 Joint Commission Accreditation
By Lt. Col. Ulu E. Porter, Chief DBH
Weed Army Community Hospital (WACH)
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Weed Army Community Hospital and its Department of Behavioral Health has started 2019 with a bang. With months of Joint Commission (JC) preparation, WACH entered the new year with feelings of both optimism and ambivalence. The latter was obvious, given the long-anticipated arrival of Joint Commission to survey WACH in January. The Joint Commission survey has become commonly known in the healthcare industry as the ‘make it or break it’ test for any medical treatment facility.
In May of 2018, Col. Larry France became the commander of WACH. With more than 32 years of military service and experience, Col. France clearly understood the short-lived celebration of becoming the new commander of a military treatment facility, and went right to work by immediately set- ting the priorities regarding the way ahead for his organization. Not surprisingly, the biggest target on his priority lists was the Joint Commission survey that would be anticipated at any time between October 2018 and March 2019. Immediately, there were amassing of efforts to sharpen the organization’s focus and preparation for JC survey. There were bi-monthly JC huddles for the first, several months to track, synchronize and close out items that were deemed priority for the JC. Then it narrowed to weekly JC huddles during the last, couple of months prior to the JC survey, especially when it was determined the JC would most likely arrive around January 2019.
As each month came to a close, and as the organization
inched closer and closer to JC survey, Col. France knew that beyond the daily and weekly completion of every tasks associ- ated with JC, his main focus now was to project confidence and instill hope among his team. You would often hear some of his mantras like, “Get the low hanging fruits,” “We work hard and play hard,” and “Take care of those entrusted to your leadership and care,” all of which are fundamentally underpinned by the Army’s philosophy of Mission Command. As a resident graduate of the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, Col. France understood that real success in any organization at its core is about people. And while the Army War College provides a curriculum that focuses on strategic level critical thinking in solving global complex problems, it too at its core is about people. Col. France’s exercise of Mission Command was evident in his ability to empower his subordinates with disciplined initia- tive and discretion, all while making a positive connection with his staff at a human level. Simply put, Mission Command was the “Way,” daily/weekly interactions with staff during huddles was the “Means,” and building strong relationships/connections with people and achieving by-in from his staff was the “Ends.” And if you get that right, the JC will work itself out.
Such is the case with WACH’s Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), considered the hospital’s highest performing department. Low-hanging fruits, work hard and play hard, take care of those entrusted to your care and leadership-- those man- tras were part of an echo chamber for the DBH leadership. Led by Maj. (P) Porter and his deputy Maj. Sendejo, DBH excelled during the WACH Joint Commission survey. According to the JC survey team, “[DBH] this is the best ever JC binder we’ve
Col. Larry France (Commander, WACH), Maj. Yvonne Sendejo (Deputy Chief, Department of Behavioral Health), Staff Sgt. Esther Taumomoa (NCIOC, DBH), Spc. David Diaz (Behavioral Health Specialist).
ever seen.” Whether it was their data management metrics or performance improvement projects, or risk assessment plans for ligature risks and Behavioral Health Systems of Care (BHSOC) delivery, DBH’s performance was truly unmatched. Not surpris- ingly, the DBH was the first of three areas of the JC survey for WACH to receive its full JC accreditation. But if you ask Maj. Porter about the secret sauce to the DBH’s success, naturally, “It’s about people, the enlisted, civilian work force...it’s about the front desk workers.”
Town Halls will address Housing Concerns on Post
Story and Photos by Janell J. Lewis Ford
Garrison Public Affairs
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Commanding Brig. Gen. Jeffery Broad- water, Garrison leaders and Housing representatives thank everyone who participated and continues to participate in the on-going discussion on housing concerns. Following the military’s renewed focus on housing, doz- ens of questions have been collected and have been evaluated at top levels.
Fort Irwin Military leaders have been addressing a recent, national report that looked into the living conditions of families in privatized military housing. Garrison Commander, Col. Seth Krummrich reminds e v e r y o n e t h a t t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n s d o n o t e n d a f t e r t h e To w n h a l l s . Th e r e w e r e five Town Halls focused on taking Soldiers’ and resident’s concerns and suggestions and providing useful information. Those included a Feb. 27 Housing Town Hall, three DAIG Sensing Sessions and a Landlords and Tenants Rights Workshop presented by the Legal Office. There will also b e q u a r t e r l y To w n H a l l s t o a d d r e s s H o u s i n g c o n c e r n s i n d e fi n i t e l y o n p o s t .
Garrison leaders and Housing have provided extended responses during the live Town Halls and weekly Facebook Round-up sessions. The answers to more than 100 questions have also been posted to social media and sent to those individuals who asked questions via our “Fort Irwin” Facebook page. All frequently-asked questions, including those about BAH, move-out fees, etc. were answered.
Here are other tools Soldiers and residents have:
1. Call in work orders, as usual. Housing took in work orders in person at the Feb. 27th Town Hall (760.386.2460)
2. Call the 24-hour emergency hotline for urgent/major concerns at (760) 386-2460 (please only call the hotline if you have already called
Landlords and tenants turned out to the
Legal Office’s Landlord’s Rights and Tenants Workshop, just as housing concerns began
to arise nationwide across the military. Representatives from JAG, as well as Housing and a judge provided useful information, with a question and answer session afterwards.
Housing’s general work order number first and have not received a timely response at 380-386-2460.)
3. You can continue to ask questions on the Garrison weekly, live Facebook Round-up each Wednesday at 2:30p.m. from the official “Fort Irwin” page
4. Continue to file ICE complaints
5. Participate in the personal housing visits that have already began to address concerns
6. Schedule face-to-face meetings with Housing. Supervisors and managers are happy to meet with residents in person to clarify or answer questions.
ResidentsalsohadtheopportunitytotakepartinthreeDAIGSensing Sessions (March 4 and 5); the Landlord sand Tenants Rights meeting on March 7, and the command general’s April 1 Town Hall that focused on the upcoming PCS season, including housing issues.
Here are links to view the live Feb. 27 Town and answers to 100+ questions asked about Housing. They are all on the official “Fort Irwin” Facebook page (Facebook.com/FtIrwin)
1. Link to the 27 Feb. Housing Town Hall:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=310866759572460 &id=750730275134537
2. Link to 60+ Q&A’s from the 27 Feb. Housing Town Hall: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1036732319867663& id=750730275134537
3. Link to 30+ pre-submitted questions answered live, during the Housing Town Hall:
https://www.facebook.com/750730275134537/ posts/1032120296995532/
4. Link for Soldiers/residents to post Housing questions post-Housing Town Hall:
https://www.facebook.com/750730275134537/ posts/1036563819884513/
5. Link to the post notifying Soldiers/residents of visits/inspections:
https://www.facebook.com/750730275134537/ posts/1031728807034681/
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin