Photo By Marcy Sanchez | Pfc. Christopher Allen, orthopedic technician, Department of Orthopaedics, practices...... read more read more
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William Beaumont Army Medical Center’s Department of Orthopaedics was recently named as the recipients of Army Medicine’s Wolf Pack Award for Fiscal Year 2018, 2nd Quarter.
The Wolf Pack Award recognizes exceptional teamwork by an integrated group of military and civilian team members focused on excellence in support of Army Medicine and was created by the Army Surgeon General and the Chief of the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Civilian Corps.
Over a yearlong period, the Department of Orhtopaedics, also known as Iron Orthopedics in homage to the Old Ironsides of the 1st Armored Division, based locally at Fort Bliss, gained many accolades as the region’s musculoskeletal health care team contributing to overall readiness at Fort Bliss and the care of service member’s families, El Paso retirees, and veterans.
“We are one of the best resourced clinics with regards to support staff, from the front desk personnel to nurses, case managers, business people and coders and fortunate to have command support,” said Col. Mark Pallis, chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “Our people really stepped up and put in the work.”
In total, the team treated over 33,600 patients and performed over 4,600 surgeries during the year. In a partnership with 1st AD health care providers, the team managed to impact readiness, communication and teamwork at Fort Bliss resulting in a significant decrease in non-deployable Soldiers.
“I think the excellence that we have from our Soldiers, civilians, (nurses), and (support staff) ultimately leads to us being able to see more patients, to be able to sign more patients up for surgery, (doctors) getting to the (operating room), and residents being able to do their jobs, function at a higher level and do more cases,” said Lt. Col. Justin Orr, director, Orthopedic Residency Program, WBAMC. “It all adds up to everybody performing at a higher level.”
The team’s performance is captured in metrics from decreases in wait time for specialty appointments from 17 days on average to nine days, to increases in surgical procedures by about 50 percent, resulting in overall productivity of over 130 percent of the department’s initial target.
“Our access to care in orthopedics is as good as I’ve seen it in the nine to 10 years I’ve been here,” said Orr, a native of Kankakee, Illinois.
“It’s really good for WBAMC, it showcases that we’re giving very good care here,” said Pallis, a native of Branchville, New Jersey. “We have very dedicated people working hard to take care of our patients.”
While orthopedic operations at WBAMC saw a steady increase from 2016 to 2017, staffing remained the same, and at times was lower than average due to continued deployments, personnel reassignments and routine training assignments. During the award’s timeframe, procedures and processes concerning interdepartmental operations with veterans referred to WBAMC from the El Paso Veterans Affairs Healthcare System were also streamlined and refined. Due to the clinic’s capabilities and proficiency in complex sports surgery, cartilage restoration surgery and limb deformity surgery, it also services Soldiers and families referred from other military medical facilities in the region.
“We were at half strength from a clinician standpoint, yet we didn’t stop and we kept the efficiency,” said Pallis, whose leadership and academic determination earned him the Army Surgeon General’s Maj. Gen. Lewis Aspey Mologne award in 2016.
“During the timeframe of the award, we lost half the doctors, but it was also the support staff during that timeframe that made it work,” said Ronald Zilich, the department’s group practice manager. “
In addition to patient care, the department’s involvement with developing future orthopedic surgeons also played a factor in being recognized for Army Medicine’s Wolf Pack award. With 25 residents, the Graduate Medical Education program is one of the top-ranked programs not only in Army Medicine, but across the nation.
“The residents’ readiness is their training. Learning how to become orthopedic surgeons both clinically and academically, that’s their readiness,” said Orr, who was recognized as Army Medicine’s top physician in his grade last year. “Through rigorous academic programs and an apprenticeship model residents are meeting their developmental milestones to become orthopedic surgeons.”
Residents’ talent and knowledge was continuously tried and tested resulting in scores within the 96th percentile of all orthopedic residency programs nationwide in an annual orthopedic training exam and winning the Texas Orthopaedic Association Quiz Bowl for the second year in a row during the nominating period (the residents have also won their third quiz bowl since).
A shared practice of the staff is continuous contributions to the field of orthopedics through peer reviewed publications and participation in Continuing Medical Education conferences and meetings throughout the United States.
Because the Wolf Pack’s award is aimed at an integrated military-civilian team effort, about 30 civilian health care professionals also contributed to earning a top spot in Army Medicine from admission to point of care.
Leaders continue to harvest camaraderie through weekly training, quarterly recognitions and occasional outings for all members of the Iron Orthopedics team.
“You have to lead by example,” said Zilich, a native of Tampa, Florida. “Make people like coming to work and enjoy working, so when we get the civilian staff in here and they see the camaraderie, everybody working well, and the high level of expectation, they come in and work hard.”
Through a Soldier-first mindset, the department’s multiple awards and accolades encompass all ranks as evidenced by the Iron Orthopedics’ various Soldier/Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of the quarter and year recognitions at WBAMC and beyond.
“We’re technically proficient with our competencies, but we don’t lose our Soldier-first aspect because we may be on the battlefield, so we’re tactically proficient (as well),” said Sgt. 1st Class Gilberto Rodriguez, noncommissioned officer in charge, Department of Orthopaedics, and native of Fresno, California. “We are Soldiers and we never forget that.”
The 83 personnel-strong Iron Orthopedics team has garnered awards, honors and continuous to provide high-quality health care to Fort Bliss service members, their families, and retirees and veterans in El Paso, Texas and surrounding areas.
“Iron sharpens iron. I think what we’ve really succeeded in is building a team, everyone works together really well,” said Pallis. “That’s what is most gratifying about (the Wolf Pack Award): it’s a team award and it’s for every single one of us, we can all share it.”
| Date Taken: | 06.25.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.25.2018 13:12 |
| Story ID: | 282162 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | BRANCHVILLE, NJ, US |
| Hometown: | FRESNO, CA, US |
| Hometown: | KANKAKEE, IL, US |
| Hometown: | TAMPA, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 97 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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