Fear of failure is not what keeps you from being successful

Filed under CRDAMC, CRDAMC Commander by on May 2, 2012 at 2:57 pm {9 comments}

(Preface: My last several posts have all highlighted the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center values of Honor, Nurture, Excellence Trust and Empathy. While I know Accountability is the next value that is supposed to be highlighted, I’ve decided to skip ahead to Mentorship because I believe this message is crucially important to share.)

Every morning before the command group starts its working day one of our medical center chaplains shares a thought of the day with us in order to help the medical center leadership focus our attention on our mission of caring for the patients we serve. This morning our chaplain, Capt. Jason Unsworth, shared an amazing and profound quote by Marianne Williamson titled “Our greatest fear” from her book A Return to Love. The quote reads:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make and manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Religious affiliation aside, I believe this quote strikes the heart of an issue that is common for many people. It is not the fear of failure that keeps a person from succeeding, but rather the fear of succeeding that stops them from ever attempting to achieve success. We worry about standing out in a crowd. We worry about how we are viewed by our peers. We live in fear of setting a standard that is so high that the work or contributions of those around us may inadvertently look less significant. We are so concerned about fitting in that we sell ourselves short – never fully reaching our true potential and never really understanding the positive impact we could have – not just on ourselves but on the world around us as well.
While we are all very different and distinct individuals, we will all face challenges in our lives. However, I argue that adversity should not be viewed as a roadblock, but instead as an opportunity. We should not cower in the face of challenges – we should embrace them.  We must grant ourselves permission to reach for more, to expect more and to give more because if we have the ability to be great we have the responsibility to do something great. When faced with difficult situations where the easy road is a little too tempting we must remind ourselves that the challenging road – while demanding – will ultimately be more fulfilling.

So I challenge you to also take a moment every day to reflect on your own personal values, morals and goals so that you too can face the day focused on your mission and the lives you will touch. Then liberate yourself from the fear of success. Act with courage. Live to your fullest potential. Believe that you are smarter, better, and more talented than you have given yourself credit for in the past. Make a difference in the lives of those around you and teach them to see their full potential so that they may also be liberated to believe, achieve and succeed in their goals.

PDS

Col. Patrick Sargent

Serving to heal…Honored to Serve

“Compassionate, World-Class Healthcare—One Patient at a Time” 

Respect and compassion for patients are the building blocks of trust

Filed under CRDAMC Commander by on March 14, 2012 at 8:39 am {9 comments}

Like most Soldiers, I have had many experiences with Army medicine during my 27-year career both professionally and personally. Some of those experiences were more memorable than others, like my first medical evacuation flight, getting shots for my first deployment, my wife and I welcoming our daughter into the world, and of course, taking command of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center. While in command here I have had many opportunities to talk with the Soldiers, Family members and Veterans who receive their care here. Not all of their stories are easy to hear and not every outcome is happy, but despite their individual circumstances I regularly receive the same message. They tell me how much they respect and trust their providers, and how much they appreciate the respectful and compassionate care they have received in our facilities.

Today I read an ICE comment we received from Ms. Sheli Brown, a Family member who receives her care at the Killeen Medical Home. Ms. Brown praised her care team for their efficiency, stating, “The timeliness of the facility is what makes me come back time and again. I was really impressed today when the nurse who checked me in at the front took me to the lab BEFORE seeing the provider so that the labs were done for my appointment and I could get in and out. Those ladies are amazing.”  

Trust is the foundation of good healthcare. For some patients, like Ms. Brown, trust is earned. Her care team respects that her time is valuable, and they are working hard to ensure they don’t waste it. The care team’s attention to details and consideration for the patient’s wants and needs has proven to this beneficiary that they are both professional and trustworthy.

Recently, I spoke with a family who sadly lost their baby shortly after delivery. They were heartbroken. Still, in the midst of their pain and sorrow the grieving mother told me how our Labor and Delivery doctors, nurses and administrative staff helped her find a semblance of peace by preparing a bereavement box for her and her husband. The box contained a clay mold of their baby’s footprints and a tiny bracelet that had fit on their baby’s wrist, among other items. She told me that while she was still struggling with the loss of her child, she was overwhelmed by her providers’ compassion.

This story is at the forefront of my mind as I begin my day leading our healthcare system.  I thought about the level of care she had received, and the rapport her providers were able to build which allowed her, despite her loss, to genuinely appreciate their efforts. This patient told me she was grateful for the care she had received during such a difficult time in her life. I am proud to know that we have providers on our TEAM who take the extra time to help our grieving patients. They go above and beyond what is required to care for those in need of comfort.  That type of human connection is priceless, and it can often be a foundation that leads to trust.

Just a few weeks ago I received a copy of a letter from CSM (retired) Harold Lewis that was addressed to Gen. Raymond Odierno, the Army Chief of Staff, regarding a surgery CSM (R) Lewis’ wife had at our hospital. In his letter he said, “In my 29 years of service I have never witnessed finer medical care… I just wanted you to know, your Army is professional beyond words. They are the finest our nation has to offer, and I just wanted you to know, what it means to an ‘old soldier’ when he witnesses excellence.”

While CSM (R) Lewis stated that his wife was recovering well; I noticed that it wasn’t the complexity of the procedure or the surgeon’s education, experience or expertise that he praised in his letter. It was the compassionate care he and his wife received from the entire surgical team that inspired him to write to the Chief of Staff of the Army. His letter clearly showed the high level of trust that has been formed with the providers and staff at Darnall.

These are just a few examples of the stories I hear all the time from our beneficiaries, and that’s how I know – without a doubt – that the doctors, nurses and administrative staff at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center are dedicated to providing superior care for all of our patients. Our commitment shows in the compassion and respect that we give to them through our acknowledgement of the humanity and dignity of each life. We will continue to build on that trust with every beneficiary we touch. 

 

PDS

Col. Patrick Sargent

Serving to heal…Honored to Serve

“Compassionate, World-Class Healthcare—One Patient at a Time” 

 

EXCELLENCE – team works to ensure paternal relationships, healthy start for newborns

Filed under CRDAMC Commander by on January 23, 2012 at 10:04 am {4 comments}

EXCELLENCE – ROUTINELY SURPASSING ORDINARY STANDARDS IN ALL WE SAY AND DO

Throughout the Army, Fort Hood is known for its size. It has one of the largest installation cantonment areas, the most training acreage, one of the largest Soldier and Family populations, and not surprisingly one of the highest birth rates. In fact, the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Labor and Delivery staff deliver an average of eight babies every day or roughly 2,920 a year. That’s a lot of blankets, diapers and birth certificates!

Despite the high volume of deliveries and a daunting amount of birth registry paperwork, CRDAMC’s birth registration clerks, Sheryl Ratcliff-Perez and Araceli Chavez, have been recognized two years in a row for going above and beyond their duties, and commendably participating in both the Texas Attorney General’s Paternity Opportunity Program and the Texas Department of State Health Services ImmTrac program.

Ms. Ratcliff-Perez’s and Ms. Chavez’s commitment to the Paternity Opportunity Program has helped many Fort Hood newborns and fathers form lasting and legal paternal relationships. According to Texas law, a child who is born to a man and woman who are not married has no legal father. So if a baby is born to parents who are not married the CRDAMC birth registration clerks take time to talk to the parents about their parental rights and responsibilities. They also offer them the opportunity to sign the Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP), which establishes a legal relationship between the father and baby, which ensures children are eligible for child support, Social Security benefits, Veteran’s survivor benefits and military health insurance.  Signing the AOP also allows the clerks to include the father’s name on the child’s birth certificate. Ms. Ratcliff-Perez’s and Ms. Chavez’s work on this initiative earned them a Certificate of Appreciation in 2010 from the Texas Attorney General’s Office and, for the first time in CRDAMC history, the Exemplary Paternity Program Award in 2011, which is the highest award a hospital can receive in this program.

The Texas Department of State Health Services also recognized the CRDAMC birth registration team in both 2010 and 2011 for their efforts in the ImmTrac program, a free, secure and confidential vaccination registry that stores children’s, Texas first responders’, and first responder family members’ vaccine information electronically through a centralized system. This information can be quite valuable if a child is ill or injured, and a parent, guardian or child care provider is unsure which vaccines the child has received.  The service can also provide a copy of a child’s shot record if the original is lost and damaged.

At CRDAMC we regularly tell our patients how much we care about their health and their wellbeing. We work tirelessly to ensure that each patient receives the care they deserve, but sometimes telling them isn’t as important as showing them. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Ms. Ratcliff-Perez’s and Ms. Chavez’s actions certainly speak to their commitment to patients and to excellence. They are required to provide birth registration services for patients, and that is a very important and time-consuming job. Despite that, they have taken on the additional duty to help fathers establish and nurture paternal relationships with their newborns, in most cases forming life-long bonds. They also help parents successfully manage their new babies’ immunizations records allowing parents to provide them a strong and healthy start in life. Their hard work and dedication to patients is a true example of the standard of excellence all CRDAMC staff works to provide to our patients on a daily basis. Well done ladies! I am proud to say you are a part of the CRDAMC team. Keep up the good work.

 

PDS

Col. Patrick Sargent

“Compassionate, World-Class Healthcare—One Patient at a Time”

 

 

Holidays are a perfect time to nurture relationships, improve resiliency

Filed under CRDAMC Commander by on December 20, 2011 at 5:02 pm {5 comments}

The holidays are a special time for families and friends to be together and celebrate life’s blessings, especially in a military community where change is often the only constant. I encourage you to enjoy the holiday festivities, but also take time to build and nurture your relationships.  Share a smile with a stranger, help a neighbor and create good memories with friends and family. These connections will sustain you throughout the years to come.

At Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, we know nurturing relationships builds resilience which is the key component to a strong Army Family and sustainable force.  This understanding stems from the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, an Army-wide initiative highlighting five dimensions of strength including physical, emotional, social, family and spiritual. The program concludes that a person who is strong in these dimensions is more resilient despite the obstacles they may face. Fort Hood has completely embraced and implemented this initiative, and so has Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center. From substance abuse and marriage and family counseling to weight control and physical fitness, CRDAMC has a program to nurture you and your family so that you are more resilient during difficult times.

In fact, the CRDAMC Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Center is a result of this initiative. The center offers several programs including tobacco cessation, nutrition awareness and functional fitness classes including wall climbing, Tai Chi, yoga and massage therapy. Their cognitive enhancement programs help with goal setting, attention control, energy management, learning and memory. They also provide a meditation area and various spiritual, emotional and behavioral counseling options. These programs are available to all Fort Hood Soldiers and their Families. For more information about any of these programs or to make an appointment call (254) 287-8219.

Another CRDAMC system of care that is ready to help nurture you and your family is our Behavioral Health Division which includes the Resilience and Restoration Center, the Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Evaluation Services (CAPES), Family Advocacy, Medical Social Work, Social Work Care Management, Intensive Outpatient Program, adult inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services and the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic. Our providers offer a variety of treatment options including counseling, substance abuse intervention, psychiatric services, and medication management. For more information on these programs please talk to your primary care provider or contact the Resilience and Restoration Center at (254) 553-2288.

Our medical center Chaplain’s Office is also available to serve all your spiritual needs regardless of your faith base or religious preferences. CRDAMC’s chaplains are here to stand beside you through every stage of life and want to help you celebrate the joys and manage the struggles. They are located in the hospital basement near the main pharmacy, and offer regular chapel and prayer services and counseling.  To request chaplain assistance or speak with a chaplain directly please call (254) 288-1757.

These are just a few examples of the wide range of programs and services we have at CRDAMC to nurture our beneficiaries and help them form stronger, lasting relationships. During this time of festivities remember, take a break from your regular holiday bustle to enjoy time with family and friends and nurture the relationships that are important to you. Be sure to make time for a little rest and relaxation for yourself too, and don’t forget that the staff at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center is here and ready to serve you.

Happy Holidays,

PDS

Col. Patrick Sargent

“Compassionate, World-Class Healthcare—One Patient at a Time”

 

Commander’s blog: Honor is judged by actions

Filed under CRDAMC Commander by on December 2, 2011 at 12:47 pm {5 comments}

When an individual stops to consider what Soldiers do, who they are and what values and morals they possess, honor is usually a virtue that comes to mind. A textbook definition of honor may include words like honesty, respect, a source of credit or distinction. All of these are correct, but they don’t really capture the essence of an honorable person.

To really understand honor you have to witness it firsthand, and I have many times. An excellent example is Dr. Daniel Tutty, a clinical social worker at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center’s Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program.

Dr. Tutty first served as an enlisted Soldier in the U.S. Army from September 1971 to June 1974. He was stationed at Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville, Penn., which was the Orthopedic and Psychiatric Center for the First Army. The hospital had a 225-bed inpatient unit that provided psychiatric services for Soldiers who were medically evacuated from Vietnam. The program consisted of a 90-day period of evaluation. At the end Soldiers were either returned to duty and shipped back to Vietnam, or turned over to the Veterans Administration System. According to Tutty our system of behavioral healthcare is much more humane now. After being honorably discharged as a Specialist5 (E-5) in 1974, Tutty worked in several mental health capacities including a private practice.  

In 2005 Tutty was concerned Army behavioral health providers didn’t have the experience necessary to work with combat veterans. So he decided to leave his private practice, take an 80 percent cut in pay, and return to the Army Medical Command to care for America’s sons and daughters so he could help them learn to overcome the mental scars of war. He began at the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, Calif., where he served for two years before coming to Ft. Hood.  He helped establish the Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program here in 2007.  The WCSRP is a three-week intensive program that focuses on reducing hyper-arousal and reactivity which is common among Soldiers who have experienced combat. The program provides intensive counseling and helps develop effective coping and self-regulation skills.

Dr. Daniel Tutty is just one shining example of the honorable men and women who work at CRDAMC and who have chosen to serve our nation by caring for the Soldiers and Families.

Acting with honor isn’t always easy, especially when you know the right decision will not be the most comfortable, but as Dr. Tutty says, “The honor for me comes from serving the honorable men and women who have and continue to serve our great nation.”

Care and Concern—One Team,

PDS

Colonel Patrick D. Sargent

“Compassionate, World-Class Healthcare — One Patient at a Time”

CRDAMC Values

Filed under CRDAMC Commander by on November 23, 2011 at 3:23 pm {11 comments}

At Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center our mission and vision center on our ability to provide compassionate, world-class healthcare to every patient who walks through our doors. From the doctors, nurses and pharmacists, to laboratory technicians, clinic administrators and leadership, the desire to provide superior care to the sick and wounded is integral to our make-up.

In each of us this drive to nurture and heal is based on a set of values, or innate truths, that guide us in every decision we make. Our individual values may differ, but our collective organizational values are the heart of who we are as an Army medical center. These common values keep us focused on our mission and vision, and remind us why we have chosen to serve the Warriors, Families, and Veterans who receive care at our medical center.

The CRDAMC Values:

HONOR…maintaining the highest level of integrity in all our actions and decisions

NURTURE…building resiliency in mind, body, and spirit for both our customers and our staff

EXCELLENCE…routinely surpassing ordinary standards in all we say and do

TRUST…establishing and fostering an environment that places the needs of the patient first

EMPATHY…simultaneously providing top-notch healthcare while truly expressing compassion for our patients each and every moment

ACCOUNTABILITY…demanding from ourselves the highest in ethical and moral principles

MENTORSHIP…guiding individuals to greater levels of personal and professional growth both within and beyond our doors

 

Blog 1: Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Commander’s Intent

Filed under CRDAMC Commander by on November 1, 2011 at 3:11 pm {11 comments}

CRDAMC Commander COL Patrick D. Sargent

It has been about 120 days since I took command of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center. Since then I have been very busy learning the ins and outs of this medical center and getting to know the amazing doctors, nurses, technicians and administrative professionals who work here. One thing I have realized from all of the meetings and in-briefings is that the CRDAMC staff is made up of dedicated and compassionate individuals who are here because they genuinely care about Soldiers and their Families.

These professionals are highly skilled in their fields and could work anywhere, but they have chosen to work here because they are true patriots and have chosen to serve our country by caring for its military. Our military and their Families also understand the importance of helping and caring for those who serve. Regardless of background, my team demonstrates every day that they are ready and willing to go above and beyond in order to help our patients get the care they need and deserve.

This remarkable CRDAMC team has inspired me to come up with a new mission and vision for our medical center – a mission and vision that exemplify the level of professional proficiency, steadfast allegiance and compassionate care they offer to our Soldiers, Families, Veterans and Retirees every day.
Our new medical center mission says it all:

The Carl R. Darnall Healthcare System provides evidenced-based, patient and family-centered care to Warriors, Veterans, and Family Members. We sustain a resilient community capable of supporting the Army Force Generation Cycle and Warriors as they transition to Veteran status. We maintain a collaborative partnership with the community and strive to lead the healthcare industry in patient satisfaction, quality, innovative research and Graduate Medical Education as we train the next generation of healthcare leaders—all while placing the needs of the patient first and remaining the Department of Defense healthcare system and employer of choice.

Our vision for your healthcare:

Be the premier Healthcare System in America, singularly focused on honoring our Warriors, Veterans and Family Members with compassionate, world-class healthcare, by consistently bringing value and inspiring trust—one patient at a time.

Our mission and vision are completely within our reach. I have challenged the CRDAMC team to embrace this mission and vision with me, and they have accepted because they too realize the enormous potential and satisfaction that will naturally follow.
With gratitude and respect,

PDS
COL Patrick D. Sargent, MS, FACHE

“Compassionate, world-class health care … one patient at a time.”