Photo By Dawn Grimes | Naval Medical Forces Atlantic (MEDLANT) Rear Adm. Darin K. Via present HN Ethan Church...... read more read more
Commander, Naval Medical Forces Atlantic (MEDLANT) Rear Adm. Darin K. Via along with MEDLANT Deputy Commander Rear Adm. Eric Peterson and Command Master Chief Zachary Pryor visited U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Guantanamo Bay (US NMRTC GB) November 8, 2021.
The Admiral’s visit began with an all-hands town hall where he expressed his appreciation for the unique mission corpsmen and providers fulfill at Guantanamo Bay as the only medical providers for the installation community. “There are absolutely different stressors here, not only from the remoteness of the island, but your connectivity, and within that, the things you’re required to do every day.” Via continued, “I truly appreciate and thank you for keeping this installation operationally ready and on the job.”
Via is also the Senior Market Manager of the Tidewater Military Health System and spoke to ongoing U.S. Congress implemented reform efforts including organizational, infrastructure and manpower changes. The Defense Health Agency has established a market-based structure within which US Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay (USNH GB) is a small stand-alone facility, as opposed to one within a multi-unit market. “At the point of execution, the mission hasn’t changed. Our job is to get those operational forces ready and out the door and to deploy so the force generates medical capabilities. The good news is the DHA already acknowledges that job one is readiness. Via continued, “Is there a challenge? Yes, the challenge is that everyone across leadership execute, so the readiness mission can be made and the healthcare delivery mission doesn’t suffer. It will require sound leadership at all levels of the organization.”
The Admiral shared one and a half hours receiving questions and addressing items including training concerns, Guantanamo Bay duty classification and the unique mental health challenges that come with delivering health care to a diverse population in a remote environment.
“With our dynamic mission, caring for beneficiaries, island residents, foreign nationals and warfighters, it was a great privilege to showcase the amazing things we achieve in a kinetic and joint environment – especially in a remote geographical location, said Capt. Dale Ramirez, Commanding Officer US NMRTC GB. “We valued the opportunity to underscore the robust partnerships we’ve fostered across the Naval Station, Joint Task Force and multiple assets within the U.S. SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.”
The MEDLANT leadership team toured the hospital including the Emergency Department, Surgical Suite and Multi Service Ward where he spoke with Lt. Saintheresa Jackson about the some of the unique placement challenges facing Labor and Delivery nurses. “It was really incredible for him to really take the time and come through the hospital and talk to those who are working the floors and speaking with the Corpsmen to see what we’re doing, to give us information about ways forward in in our careers, insight about how Big Navy is looking at things.” Lt. Jackson said. “To have those in leadership who have an ear to hear us is amazing and shows that we do have support beyond where we are.”
Via presented flag officer coins to Cmdr. Kristin Edgar, Directorate for Nursing Service (DNS), Staff Education and Training Department (SEAT); Lt. Cmdr. Bryan Roberts, Directorate for Medical Services (DMS), Primary Care Clinic; Aviation’s Mate 1st Class Alberic Mareus, DMS, Behavioral Health; Hospital Corpsman (HN) Tristan McMillion, Directorate for Administration, Patient Administration; HM3 Maurine Mutai Directorate for Clinical Support Services, Radiology; Mr. Colin Dayton, Directorate for Administration, Facilities; HN Gage GardnerPerry, DMS, Emergency Department (ED); HN Ethan Church, DNS, SEAT; HM2 Princess Pamintuan, Directorate for Surgical Services, Specialty Clinic; HM3 David Kim DFA, Human Resources Department. HN Christian Bentler, DMS, ED was awarded Command Master Chief Pryor’s coin. The honorees were nominated for recognition by department leaders for outstanding contributions and dedicated service.
US Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay (USNH GB) is a community-based facility providing health care to the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay community that consists of approximately 6,000 military, federal employees, US and foreign national contractors and their families. The USNH GB also operates the only overseas military home health care facility providing care to elderly Special Category Residents who sought asylum on the installation during the Cuban Revolution.
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 11.09.2021 17:58 |
| Story ID: | 409063 |
| Location: | CU |
| Web Views: | 490 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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