Category: US Navy

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

The hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) concluded the quarterly Mercy Exercise (MERCEX) 25-1, Dec. 11th.

During the pier-side exercise, the Mercy crew, which consisted of more than 500 embarked Sailors, conducted an assortment of exercises, trainings, and drills.

“The Mercy hospital ship platform is Navy Medicine’s largest maritime medical force platform,” said Capt. Darla Dietrich, Mercy’s Executive Officer. “Mercy exercises such as this one gives medical personnel the ability to man together as a unit, train as a team, and evaluate our ship’s MTF capabilities to render patient care to our military’s war fighters. This is a key component in achieving Navy Medicine’s North Star.”

Mercy’s crew honed their skills with abandon ship drills, flight deck firefighting drills, mass casualties trainings and other drills to prepare the ship in case of a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) situation or other engagements as the mission requires.

“During MERCEX we conducted multiple drills, individually in departments and as an entire MTF team,” said Dietrich. “We started the week with small scoped drills and increased scope and scenarios throughout the evolution to challenge the command to greater heights of readiness. The finale mass casualty was our evaluation drill of the week’s training evolutions.”

Sailors assigned to Mercy utilize MERCEX to train in their specific roles within the shipboard MTF environment.

“These Sailors familiarize themselves with our equipment, our Standard Operating Procedures, and overall orientation of our ship,” said Dietrich. “This exercise allows them to build their confidence in response to casualty care scenarios as an individual and as a team.”

When called upon, the Mercy is expected to deploy within five days to provide scalable role three medical and surgical care across a broad range of specialties. Mercy does so while serving as an afloat theater hospitalization capability, all in support of the joint warfighter engaged in the full range of military operations.

“Mercy’s primary mission is to provide health services in support of combatant command missions,” said Dietrich. “While in a Reduced Operating Status, we are expected to activate to Full Operating Status within five days of an activation order. MERCEX enables us to bring together our full complement of Medical Treatment Facility personnel for drills and evaluation so we are ready for the fight. By training, we are optimizing our response to save lives in a real world scenario.”

MERCEX keeps both the MSC merchant mariners and service members up to par on their skills and keeps them ready to deploy in a moment’s call to anywhere in the world.

Mercy is currently operating pier side in San Diego for Mercy Exercise 25-1. Mercy is one of two hospital ships owned and operated by Military Sealift Command. Mercy conducts operations in the Pacific area of responsibility under the guidance of U.S. Pacific Command and Commander Pacific Fleet. (U.S. Navy story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Justin Ontiveros)

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

USNMRTC Sigonella’s Contributions to Global Health Engagement

December is Global Health Engagement Month, and we are highlighting the significant contributions our team members at United States Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (USNMRTC) Sigonella have made toward Global Health Engagement (GHE) efforts. The Plans, Operations, and Medical Intelligence (POMI) Division, led by Lieutenant Thato Manyothwane, along with his team, Hospital Corpsman Second Class (HM2) Dustin Barker and Hospital Corpsman Second Class (HM2) Madyson Schmidt, successfully coordinated various missions across European Command, Central Command, and African Command.

Over thirty Sailors from USNMRTC Sigonella, United States Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit (USNMRTU) Bahrain, and Branch Clinic Souda Bay were mobilized to support missions across the globe such as: USS McClean in Augusta Bay, Georgia, Cutlass Express in Seychelles and Kenya, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in Germany, Vigorous Warrior in Hungary, Obangame Express in Cameroon and Gabon, Eager Lion in Jordan, Baltic Operations in the Baltic Sea, African Chief of Defense Conference in Botswana, and various missions in Cyprus, Bahrain, Uganda, Poland, and Tunisia.

Keep reading to learn about some of our Sailors’ GHE experiences…

As a Navy Nurse, Lieutenant Fremmy Cuadra, was mobilized for the 11th bi-annual multinational exercise Eager Lion 2024. During this mission service members taught Tactical Casualty Combat Care (TCCC) to the operating forces onboard the Royal Jordanian Naval Base. Lt. Cuadra stated that, “The instructional cadre consisted of one U.S. Navy Officer, several U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsmen, and Jordanian medics. The participating students included Jordanian and U.S. Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, and Coast Guardsmen. The skills they acquired during TCCC were showcased during the final exercise, where they tested en route care capabilities, performed Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure operations, and demonstrated Close Quarter Combat skills.”

In 2023, Hospital Corpsman Second Class HM2 (FMF) Charles P. Albrecht, a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician, was selected for the Security Assistance Group Ukraine mission. HM2 Albrecht was part of an international team of American, Canadian, and Polish active-duty medical personnel that coordinated a TCCC program for Ukrainian Military personnel at the Wojskowe Centrum Ksztalcenia Medycznego (Center for Military Medicine) in Lodz, Poland. During the six-week evolution students were educated on Basic Life Support (BLS), TCCC, Role 1 +, Role 2 +, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, ad Explosive (CBRNE), and battlefield tactics of Military Medical personnel. Additionally, the team collaborated with translators to convert Deployed Medicine TCCC training assets into Ukrainian. HM2 Albrecht reported that, “Most of our students had little to no experience with medicine but had a strong determination to learn as much as possible.” He went on to say this “I honestly believe that this mission was the greatest and most rewarding work I’ve done so far in my career.”

In July 2024, a Tri-service team of nurses partnered with the Royal Medical Services at the Crown Prince Center for Training and Medical Research in Manama, Bahrain, for the global health engagement activity: Trauma Nursing and Leadership Subject Matter Expert Exchange Symposium. Lieutenant Kathryn Johnston-Woo, an emergency and trauma trained Navy Nurse Corps Officer from USNMRTC Sigonella, delivered two lectures during the event. Her first presentation focused on the principles of TCCC and their implications for providing effective medical care once casualties arrive at a Role 3 or 4 hospital. Her second lecture focused on the various roles and responsibilities of emergency and trauma nurses in responding to mass casualty events. Additionally, she participated as a panel member alongside Bahraini partners in a discussion centered on nursing leadership roles, responsibilities, and the challenges faced in the field.

These Sailors’ contributions highlight the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in enhancing medical readiness and improving patient outcomes in complex emergency situations. Their collaborative efforts underscore USNMRTC Sigonella’s commitment to enhancing global health and fostering international partnerships through comprehensive medical readiness initiatives. These events embodied the foundation of global health engagement initiatives as they built trust and respect through sharing information and continued to foster relationships with regional partners.

Written by: Lieutenant Julius C. Wiseman III, MSC, USN
Edited by: Lieutenant Commander Brandi L. Gibson, NC, USN

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Compiled by NHB/NMRTC Bremerton public affairs – With Christmas Eve officially declared as a federal holiday, the following adjustments will be in place at Naval Hospital Bremerton.

NHB Urgent Care Clinic will be closed on the federal holidays of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24 and 25, 2024.
For those experiencing an actual life, limb or eyesight threatening emergency, call 911 or head to the nearest ER.
The Nurse Advice Line is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide insight an guidance on dealing with many ailments. Nurse(s) on call will discuss concerns and provide recommendations for home treatment/care if applicable, and whether the issue should be addressed via an UCC or emergency department visit.
The Nurse Advice Line’s toll-free number is 1 800 874 2273, and then select option one.

NHB’s Pharmacy services at NHB, along with pharmacies at our branch health clinics on Naval Base Kitsap – Bangor and Naval Station Everett will [also] be closed on all federal holidays [Dec. 24-25, 2024].
ScriptCenter is still available and open for all beneficiaries. The ScriptCenter Kiosk located in the “A” level parking garage lobby just before the elevator.
Pickup is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Patients can use Q-Anywhere via phone to text the words ‘Get in line’ to 1-877-909-2512 or use the Q-Anywhere link https://cxmlink.com/MTF1152 to start the process.
When you text in, just click on the secure weblink to start the process.
Just follow the provided directions to select the pharmacy, add the patients, select the pickup location and the priority of service.
Please ensure to include the information about what you want us to fill, otherwise we will just process any new prescriptions submitted within the past two weeks.

Shuttle Update – the Naval Hospital Bremerton – Madigan Army Medical Center shuttle will not be running Dec. 24-25, 2024.
We will provide full schedule on December 26 and 31, 2024, as well as January 2, 2025.
The service operates Monday-Friday – except federal holidays – and departs NHB by the UCC entrance at 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The shuttle leaves Madigan by the Main Medical Mall north entrance at 8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Navy Capt. Karen Belcar has assumed the role of chief nursing officer for Defense Health Network Pacific Rim (DHN Pacific Rim) and Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), bringing 25 years of military nursing experience to oversee nursing operations across nine military treatment facilities and 10 commands throughout the western United States and Indo-Pacific region.

“The chief nursing officer is essential to our mission success for both the network and the region” said Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, DHN Pacific Rim director and NMFP commander. “Capt. Belcar brings exceptional leadership experience and clinical expertise to this critical position. Her proven track record of fostering collaboration and driving positive change in nursing practice will be invaluable as we continue advancing health care delivery and operational readiness across the Indo-Pacific region.”

As the network chief nursing officer, Belcar, a native of Stamford, Connecticut, serves as a vital link between military treatment facilities (MTF) and the Defense Health Agency (DHA). She is also responsible for supporting chief nursing officers at NMFP’s Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands (NMRTC), which are co-located within the MTFs, and liaising with the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and the Office of the Navy Nurse Corps.

“I facilitate coordination, monitoring, and integration of activities at the network level, including partnerships and training requirements for the Total Nursing Force,” Belcar explained. “I also oversee the implementation of DHA policies and directives, nursing standards of care, and patient experience for beneficiaries served throughout the network.”

For Belcar, nursing isn’t just a career—it’s a family legacy that spans generations and connects her to a proud tradition of military service and health care excellence.

“My grandmother was a nurse midwife during World War II, and most of my aunts, cousins, and sister are nurses,” she said. “I guess it runs in my blood.”

Belcar’s military career began with a Navy Reserve Officers’ Training Corps nursing scholarship at Villanova University. What started as a four-year commitment has evolved into a quarter-century of dedicated service, during which she has held progressively challenging leadership positions that have shaped her inclusive and collaborative approach to health care leadership.

Beginning her career in medical-surgical nursing, Belcar went on to earn her master’s degree from Point Loma Nazarene University as an adult/gerontology clinical nurse specialist. Her diverse experience includes leadership roles in both outpatient and inpatient clinical settings, serving as director for health care business at a medium-sized command, NMRTC Camp Pendleton which supports Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, and most recently as chief nursing officer and director of nursing services at an overseas hospital and command, U.S. Naval Hospital and USNMRTC Sigonella, Sicily.

“My diverse duty stations have afforded me cultural competence and an inclusive approach to leadership,” Belcar said. “Learning from all my mentors and other experienced nurses has shaped my nursing career. I’ve been fortunate to be in positions where I can balance staff advocacy and organizational goals.”

As she steps into her new position, Belcar’s priorities include understanding the current landscape of nursing operations across the network’s MTFs and the readiness and training requirements for the regional commands and working with nursing officers to evaluate organizational strengths and areas for improvement.

“I want to work collaboratively with our nursing officers to monitor and analyze nurse-sensitive indicators and outcome measures,” she said. “This will help us improve and sustain nursing practices and optimize clinical care, efficiencies, and create a seamless patient experience.”

Describing herself as a transformational leader, Belcar emphasizes the importance of inspiring growth, innovation, and collaboration while tackling complex health care challenges. She believes in empowering nurse leaders through mentorship and cultivating a culture of autonomy, trust, and accountability.

Looking ahead, Belcar acknowledges both opportunities and challenges in her role. She sees opportunities in sharing policies across networks and empowering nurse leaders within the region to foster a culture of growth and resilience. However, she also recognizes the challenges of managing varying resource availability across facilities in different regions.

“My motivation to serve in this role is rooted in my passion for leadership, patient care excellence and supporting nursing teams,” she said. “I hope to be able to tackle complex health care challenges with strategic vision and create sustainable solutions.”

For those interested in military nursing careers, Belcar highlights the abundant opportunities for professional growth and development.

“The experience will be diverse, and opportunities for continuing education and certifications are plentiful, allowing for career growth,” she said. “You get the chance to see the world, experience different cultures, and broaden both your perspective and clinical expertise.”

Drawing on her family’s nursing legacy and her own extensive military experience, Belcar stands ready to lead the network’s and the region’s nursing enterprise into the future – fostering excellence in patient care for the DHA while ensuring the medical readiness of the Navy’s nursing workforce.

ABOUT US

Defense Health Network Pacific Rim (DHN-PR) is one of the Defense Health Agency’s nine networks of hospitals and clinics that deliver high-quality health care to the more than 362,000 TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries we are privileged to serve. The DHN-PR headquarters is located in San Diego, supporting military treatment facilities along the U.S. West Coast and overseas in Guam and Japan.

Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP) provides oversight for 11 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands (NMRTC), on the West Coast and Pacific Rim that train, man, and equip medical forces, primarily in military treatment facilities. Globally, NMFP oversees eight research laboratories that deliver research expertise in support of warfighter health and readiness. Additionally, NMFP manages the Naval Expeditionary Medicine Warfighter Development Center (NEMWDC), which plays a critical role in preparing medical teams for expeditionary and operational environments.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Military leaders who enter service with the primary goal of improving behavioral healthcare are a rare find. Dedicating oneself to improving the mental well-being of fellow service members is an extraordinary undertaking and precisely the challenge Lieutenant Commander Patrick Baker has accepted. Baker is not just a leader; he is a pioneer, breaking down barriers and creating a culture of care within the military while pursuing an evolving and innovative delivery of mental health care.

Baker currently serves as the Department Head of Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Patuxent River. In addition, he concurrently serves as the Installation Director of Psychological Health for Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River and shoulders the responsibility for the psychological health of 52 tenant commands; and as the Deputy Medical Service Line Lead for Behavioral Health, National Capital Region.

Baker was recently awarded and celebrated as the 2024 recipient of the Southern Maryland Chapter Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Admiral Merlin O’Neill award. The Southern Maryland Chapter of MOAA established the Admiral Merlin O’Neill award in 1981 to recognize exemplary junior officers assigned to duties at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. This award is named in honor of Admiral Merlin O’Neill, Commandant of the Coast Guard from 1950 to 1954, who was a southern Maryland resident in his later years. U.S Army Colonel (Ret) Neil Johnson presented Baker with the Admiral Merlin O’Neill Award at the November NAS Patuxent River All-Hands recognition event for his exemplary service to the NAS Patuxent River community.

A native of Long Island, NY, Baker’s journey began once he graduated from Providence College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He completed his master’s in social work and was selected for the Health Services Collegiate Program for Clinical Social Work. Baker completed his clinical training requirement at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, where he served primarily in the Department of Oncology, providing counseling and medical advice for acutely ill patients and their families.

Deciding to embark on a career in the navy was a result of a transformative experience during Baker’s graduate studies while working with veterans at Northport VA Medical Center, in Northport, NY. Baker remarked, “I was inspired by the sacrifices and resilience of the Veteran population and felt the need to do something more proactive to help them heal.” Recognizing opportunities to provide solutions tailored to the unique mental health needs of the military community, Baker was compelled to promote catalytic change, for good. It was after his clinical training that Baker accepted a commission to the United States Navy.

Baker’s decision to pursue a naval career has been a measurable and significant success. He served as part of the Operational Stress Control and Readiness (OSCAR) Team at 1st Marine Division where he was the principle Mental Health Staff Officer responsible for the psychological resiliency of approximately 3,500 marines and sailors.

As the mental health advisor to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Surgeon, and Commanding General, Baker established embedded mental health capability for the 3rd MEF Information Group in Okinawa, Japan. During his tenure, he also served as the lead medical planner for the cooperative health engagement under the Humanitarian Civic Assistance component of Exercise Balikatan 2017. He completed the Plans, Operations, and Medical Intelligence (POMI) course and was subsequently the first Licensed Clinical Social Worker awarded the POMI sub-specialty.

Baker was then assigned to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) and served as the Deputy Chief of the Naval Center for Combat and Operational Stress Control (NCCOSC). At NCCOSC, he worked to optimize the psychological readiness of sailors and marines through the development, aggregation, and dissemination of best practices and innovations in preventing psychological injuries. Baker fully developed Navy Medicine’s first comprehensive One Navy Medicine Mental Health Strategy which received unanimous concurrence from the Surgeon General and Navy Medicine Executive Staff.

The following awards and honors offer an additional glimpse of Baker’s distinguished service to date:

* 2024 Admiral Merlin O’Neill Award
* Navy Clinical Social Worker of the Year in 2019
* Meritorious Service Medal
* Two Navy Achievement Medals
* Two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals
* Armed Forces Service Medal
* Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
* Global War on Terrorism National Defense Medal
* Navy Marksmanship Ribbon (Sharpshooter)
* Navy Marksmanship Rifle (Expert) Medal

In his short time at NAS Patuxent River, Baker continues to advance and advocate for progressive behavioral health care and administer quality services in his role as a provider. As service members face chronic stress, operational fatigue, sleeplessness, and the challenges of adapting to rapidly changing technologies and mission requirements, it is important for them to know there is a path to mental wellness. Education and communication are key to spreading the message of prioritizing mental health and Baker has presented to multiple commands and executive leadership groups on the topic. One of Baker’s most significant discourses concerns the art of “Embracing Stress” as he speaks to discovering opportunities for growth, self-reflection, and balance in recognizing and leaning into perceived stressful situations. Stress has grown into a word with significant negative connotation and Baker is determined to flip the script and promote a positive and impactful relationship with stress. As Baker explains, “Stress can be a positive force that increases focus, builds resilience by overcoming challenges, and strengthens one’s ability to cope with stressors which leads to personal growth.”

Captain Jeremy J. Hawker is the Commanding Officer of (NMRTC) Patuxent River and serves concurrently as the Director of the Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River. Hawker speaks to the significance of Baker’s impact, “LCDR Baker is a talented provider, who we cannot be more grateful for in supporting our community here at NAS Pax. His multifaceted approach in the management of behavioral health issues in the region is truly one of a kind and noted from the Flag level down to the deck plate. I have had senior level leaders tell me after listening to his briefs and engaging with him, that they sought behavioral health treatment because of him, and they want to share the message that it is okay to seek treatment. He is truly a diamond in the rough, who provides support 24/7 for this community and we cannot appreciate him more.”

Through community education, professional engagement, and a relentless pursuit of quality treatment processes, Baker is dedicated to leaving a lasting positive impact. His commitment to fostering a culture of mental health awareness and support is inspiring, and his efforts are poised to significantly enhance the well-being of military personnel. He is a well-deserved recipient of the Admiral Melvin O’Neill Award. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “To leave the world a bit better . . . to know that even one life was breathed easier because you have lived – that is to have succeeded.” According to Emerson’s standard, Baker has, indeed, succeeded as there are many who have breathed easier for crossing his path.