DOD recognizes Travis medical center

  • Published
  • By Peter Gaudet
  • 60th Medical Group
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNEWS) --  David Grant Medical Center has been honored with the 2006 Team Performance Patient Safety Award in recognition of outstanding achievement in creating a safer patient environment.

The award, presented at the 2007 Military Health System conference in Washington, D.C., is the highest honor within the Department of Defense recognizing quality health care services for a military treatment facility.

"This is a great honor for David Grant and is reflective of the hard work and emphasis placed on patient safety and creating a patient safety culture within our organization over the past year and a half," said Col. (Dr.) Lee Payne, the 60th Medical Group commander.

DGMC was recognized for their sustainment and reinforcement of the TeamSTEPPS training program for all personnel assigned. National statistics identify communication and teamwork as causal factors with mistakes resulting in negative outcomes at hospitals.

"The leadership of the 60th MDG aggressively championed the initiative to train, and sustain training, all assigned medical personnel with clinical team skills and tools," said Col. (Dr.) Linda Lawrence, the chief of medical staff. "The objective was to provide all staff the necessary skill set for improved communication within the clinical arena providing a more cohesive team environment."

The two tools DGMC leadership used were TeamSTEPPS training and the building of a clinical simulation laboratory.

Colonel Lawrence continually measures results from a baseline 2005/2006 DOD patient safety survey, using the Joint Commission's tracer survey methodology. The result has been a steady increase in overall communication and openness.

DGMC observation of the aggressive TeamSTEPPS training, coupled with the sustainment training through the simulation center, has resulted in a reduction in medical mistakes or mishaps.

"While this was initiated by leadership, it has been embraced by everyone in our organization, which is the key to keeping the safety of our patients paramount," Colonel Payne said. "We are not finished with this journey by any means, and we must stay vigilant in our efforts to make every encounter as safe as possible for our patients."

For more information on the TeamSTEPPS training process, contact Michael McCann at michael.mccann.ctr@travis.af.mil

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