Photo By Douglas Stutz | standup and standout service…David N. Smith, medical support assistant at Naval...... read more read more
Growing up, David N. Smith knew he’d be part of Navy Medicine.
After 20 years active duty as a hospital corpsman to an ongoing civil service career, he still continues to serve.
“I couldn’t wait to graduate high school at age 17 and join the Navy to be a corpsman. My retired SCPO (senior chief petty officer) dad always had ‘sea stories’ at the ready. Tales of how shipmates stuck together through thick and thin. He even woke up my younger sister and I saying, ‘reveille, reveille, all hands heave out and trice up,’” said Smith, a self-described Navy brat who lived in San Diego, Japan, Guam and Florida before age 9, but calls Tulsa, Oklahoma home after attending grade school and graduating in 1985 from Booker T. Washington High School.
Smith has been assigned to Naval Hospital Bremerton’s (NHB) Branch Health Clinic (BHC) Bangor as the medical support assistant since 2005.
Smith’s interest in a Navy career and in Navy Medicine specifically, was also fueled by a staff member at his high school.
“My high school nurse was a former hospital corpsman. She taught me to take blood pressures and had a few ‘sea stories’ herself. I took a CPR class and knew I wanted to work in healthcare. I thought about nursing school, but wanted to get paid to learn instead of paying to learn. Getting paid to learn valuable skills was a no brainer to me. I told my parents to not waste their money sending me to college. I wasn’t ready and didn’t see that as my path. I preferred the adventure of the Navy,” Smith said, admitting being the proverbial ‘fish out of water’ as a teen in Oklahoma after being raised around water before relocating there.
“It was tough. I didn’t have the rural accent or the musical tastes of the true Tulsa locals. Round hole, square peg, I couldn’t wait to get back to California,” related Smith. “Fast forward several years. I have a loving wife – Kathy - that I met as an 18 year old hospitalman apprentice. We have our own home, good health, and work I love.”
Smith was stationed at the original Naval Hospital San Diego and was a plank owner for the move into the new Naval Medical Center San Diego in 1988. He went to Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas for Psychiatric Technician ‘C’ school, followed by assignments at Naval Hospital Oakland, on Okinawa, Japan, at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and finally NHB. He’s worked as a general ward corpsman, electrocardiograph technician to leading petty officer in Mental Health department.
Upon completion of his time in uniform, it was a seamless transition for him to work at BHC Bangor.
“I always planned working at NHB after retirement. I went to a job fair at Olympic College and submitted a few resumes. Bangor was the first location that called. I interviewed and started here, liked it so much, I never considered leaving. I wanted to work in medical admin after active duty,” said Smith.
Smith has been noted – and singled out by leadership – for his ‘commitment to patients and staff,’ ranging from assisting with available parking to helping arrange timely appointments.
“It starts with access and there’s two easy ways shipmates can help each. The first is to only park in the patient only parking lot when someone has an appointment. The second is to please not cancel right before the appointment. With appointments already in high demand, this hurts someone who may need an appointment,” explained Smith, with over 16 years at BHC Bangor under his belt.
“When I can help a patient through a roadblock it makes my day,” continued Smith. “Usually, when people call or visit my office it’s because they couldn’t get what they needed. Sometimes they’re understandably frustrated. I take patients out of being the middleman when possible if they’re having trouble making an appointment. I encourage our corps staff and civilian peers to go beyond as well. As the foundation and starting link of the treatment team, our detailed, information is crucial. Doing our due diligence of research and info gathering saves nurses and providers time, and translates to better healthcare overall.”
For patients who find themselves unexpectedly facing an unknown hurdle, be it clerical or communication, Smith is the clinic’s champion in providing support to handle any such concerns. No excuses. He gets it done.
“Being able to cut red tape is gratifying. I tell patients what I can do for them, then follow through and inform them. I try to resolve problems at the lowest level possible,” Smith said.
With his expertise and continuity on the job, Smith has been a consistent, and continual asset supporting staff as well as patients. Although technically a medical support assistant, Smith attests being a template manager is a crucial part of what he does, as well as help with access to care. He’s the manager behind the scenes, responsible for overall clinic operations and access.
“We take care of active duty. If they aren’t fit to fight and readily deployable they can’t defend our country from all threats. Doing my part well sets the groundwork for our staff to do the important work of treating patients,” Smith said.
When asked to sum his experience being part of Navy Medicine in one sentence, Smith replied, “I’ve grown up with the military, served on active duty, and am privileged to work with sailors on a daily basis, truly the best of both worlds. I’m very grateful.”
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2021 14:17 |
| Story ID: | 398418 |
| Location: | BREMERTON , WA, US |
| Web Views: | 292 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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