Photo By Macy Harris | Lt. Cdr. Brittany Jansen stands in the PT/SMART Clinic at Naval Health Clinic Hawaii....... read more read more
Lt. Cdr. Brittany Jansen, a physical therapist at Navy Medical Readiness and Training Command Pearl Harbor, was recently awarded Navy Medicine’s 2019 Senior Physical Therapy Officer of the Year. As the Department Head of the Physical Therapy/Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Team (PT/SMART), Jansen leads a staff of 29 musculoskeletal specialists across two clinics to maintain a medically-ready and a ready medical force.
Jansen appreciates the important role physical therapy plays in the Navy’s readiness mission. “As musculoskeletal experts, Physical Therapists (PTs) can be the difference between someone staying on a ship, overseas, in theater, or in the Navy,” explained Jansen.
While PTs are trained to evaluate and treat on sea and shore, Jansen claims prevention is the key to consistently maintaining readiness.
“I think PTs can have a huge impact in preventive medicine that will help decrease the need for patients to have multiple appointments, thus enhancing medical readiness,” explained Jansen.
Jansen found a way to increase prevention locally. She implemented the first Marine Corps Sports Medicine Injury Prevention Program (SMIP) on the island of Oahu.
“It’s a Marine program we implemented on the island which integrates athletic trainers into Marine units,” said Jansen. The U.S. Marine Corps website describes the program “as a method to reduce attrition and lost work-days associated with musculoskeletal injuries in order to increase operational readiness of individual Marines and their units.”
In addition to starting up SMIP here, Jansen has taken prevention and readiness one step further by developing a program for her SMART team to implement within operational units.
“We go out to other commands to teach Sailors and Marines how to properly perform exercises to help decrease low back injuries,” explained Jansen. “Last year we worked with the squadrons and now we are working to set up the same training with the Marines and ships.”
Jansen is focused on increasing preventative medicine, education, and readiness, and decreasing consults.
Cdr. Jonathan Erpenbach, Director for Clinical Support Services, called Jansen “an innovative and visionary leader who pioneered injury prevention training for 20 regional commands, reduced inappropriate rehabilitation consults by 12%, and enhanced operational readiness throughout the region.”
Beyond preventative program development, Jansen has been instrumental in ensuring the PT/SMART clinic spaces at the new Branch Health Kaneohe Bay are optimized for patient care. Jansen determined the placement of equipment, optimized the flow of the clinic, and maximized efficiency of the department. She worked to facilitate a seamless transition to the new building. The less time spent moving, the less time Jansen and her team are away from providing patient care and getting warfighters back to full duty.
Jansen recognizes the importance of not only striving for a medically-ready force, but a ready medical force. This means ensuring active duty staff are trained and ready to deploy when called. She was hand- selected to lead the Command Strategic Goal Team and implemented the first-ever Navy Medicine HRO Safety Trainers’ Course for 43 staff who received Safety Behavior and Error Prevention Instructor and Coaching Certifications. She also took an active role in the Command Medical Service Corps Career Development Boards by mentoring one Physician Assistant and one Physical Therapist throughout the year.
Mentorship doesn’t stop with active duty members. Jansen mentors her civilian staff daily.
“Working with Lt. Cdr. Jansen has been a great experience for me professionally,” said Mr. Kevin Massey, a Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant at Navy Medical Readiness and Training Command. “She has been an excellent mentor; continually challenging me to be better. She makes herself accessible for professional questions to help us serve our patients and takes the time to help us grow professionally.”
Running a PT/SMART clinic focused on operational readiness, staff satisfaction, and exceptional patient care would be impossible without Jansen’s staff pushing hard alongside her. She attributes her win to the staff she works with daily. “I am humbled and honored to be recognized!” explained Jansen. “Although I’m named as the awardee, this award is a reflection of the hard work the PT/SMART team does daily. I couldn’t have accomplished what I did without the clinic ‘Ohana’ and I believe those accomplishments are a reflection of the culture our Commanding Officer has created.”
Jansen consistently fosters recognition of the accomplishments of fellow staff members and strives to increase their quality of life. She served on the awards board in 2019 to approve 75 command awards. She developed multiple award packages resulting in one Junior Physical Therapist of the Year, one Junior Sailor of the Quarter and eight Sailor and Civilian of the Quarter nominations. She also developed a Government Service Welcome Aboard Package to welcome new civilian staff members and enhanced sponsorship training by 114%, thus enhancing the spirit of “Ohana” for new employees.
“Lt. Cdr. Jansen is an expert clinician who is actively sought out by her peers, other providers, and patients,” said Erpenbach. “She skillfully balances clinical and leadership responsibilities while putting patient care first. She is a model to all, motivating enlisted and officers alike. Her influence has elevated the Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine, and Chiropractic care at Naval Health Clinic Hawaii and the region. She has made significant contributions to the command, region, and her community, and is most deserving of selection as Senior Physical Therapy Officer of the Year 2019!”
| Date Taken: | 02.10.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.10.2020 12:52 |
| Story ID: | 362398 |
| Location: | HI, US |
| Web Views: | 625 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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