December 2010

WHAT’S INSIDEMadigan Memories...............................................................2Around the AMEDD.............................................................3Commentary: Tree brings together a community..................4Soldier leads others, ready to take SF challenge..................5Going for gold on JBLM: sustainability.....................................6Spotlighting our Soldiers’ teens..................................................6Madigan Heroes....................................................................7WTB recognizes caregivers.................................................8Windtalker provides insight into WWII...............................9Have you missed an appointment lately?...............................11Community.........................................................................12

Madigan stepping into baldrige

In an effort to keep our beneficiaries, staff and Joint Base Lewis-McChord community aware of the Performance Excellence Process Madigan Healthcare System is committed to, we will devote a section of The Mountaineer to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award every month.

This month, we are providing information on just what the Baldrige Award is all about.

The Baldrige Award is the highest level of national recognition for innovation and performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. Congress established the award in 1987 and the first Baldrige Awards were presented in 1988.

Seven applicants were chosen as 2010 Baldrige Award winners; only one, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downer’s Grove, Ill., was a medical organization. Through 2010, 91 organizations have earned the Baldrige Award. No Department of Defense medical facility has ever received it. A complete list of the recipients are located at www.baldrigepe.org.

The Mountaineerwww.mamc.amedd.army.milVolume 17, No. 12

Madigan Healthcare System: “People First, Patients Always”

Madigan Healthcare System creates the premier military healthcare organiza-tion through a culture of teamwork, caring, compassion, diffusion of innova-tion and exceptional outcomes. Madigan is the best place to provide and receive care, to teach and learn clinical medi-cine, and to conduct bench-to-bedside research.

VISION

MISSIONMadigan Healthcare System provides world-class military medicine and com-passionate, innovative, academic health care for Warriors and Warrior Families past, present and future.

• Readiness• Population Health• Patient-centered Focus• Quality Workforce• Education and Research• Community Partnerships• Resource Management

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

• Compassion• Quality• Teamwork• Innovation

VALUES

‘Best Warriors’ bring titles to Fort Irwin

The dentists at Fort Irwin, Calif., are pretty

happy knowing that two of their dental technicians were just named the 2010 Western Region Dental Command “Best Warrior” winners during a week-long competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Sgt. Su K. Han, 24, from Dallas, and Spc. Kirk R. Proctor Jr., 21, from Clarksville, Tenn., beat out 10 other competitors from the Western Region Dental Command to take home the honors of being the “Best Warrior.”

“It feels great to earn this because the competition has been physically and mentally challenging and we continued to work despite minimal sleep,” Han said. Proctor added, “Keeping positive thoughts in my mind helped me do so well.”

Participants were tested on their ability to withstand eight grueling challenges:

• sweat and persevere through an Army Physical Fitness Test;

• write a timed essay with supporting documents;

• answer repeated questions from senior dental

Health education, promotion has gone digital at Madigan

Margaret Voelker, Col. (Dr.) Gary Wheeler, Col. Jerry Penner III, Col. Elizabeth Mittelstaedt, Lt. Col. Cheryl Capers and Capt. Matthew Haring cut the ribbon at Madigan’s new Patient Education Center Oct. 6.

Patient Education Centers add information to lobby prior to start of appointments

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Madigan Healthcare System has launched

a new digital signage initiative that will deliver important health-related education information to its beneficiaries.

Madigan patients can now see newly installed flat-panel televisions in five clinics displaying public service health announcement videos and advertisements on issues like the dangers of smoking,

the importance of getting regular mammogram checkups and the problems associated with congenital heart failure. Below the TVs will be racks filled with health promotion brochures and magazines. The hospital has named them Patient Education Centers.

“We can deliver rapid, effective communication directly to patients and

Sgt. Sherry Sauls, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Dental Activity, reaches for an Improved First Aid Kit to stop the bleeding on the mannequin’s “wound” at the Medical Simulation Training Center. Sauls, along with 10 other NCOs and Soldiers, competed last week for the Western Region Dental Command “Best Warrior” Competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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By Lorin T. SmithCommand Information Officer

Please see PEC, PAGE 11

By Lorin T. SmithCommand Information Officer

noncommissioned officers in an administrative oral board;

• shoot as many targets as possible during a day and night rifle qualification;

• walk about 15 miles around Joint Base Lewis-McChord finding points as part of a day and night urban orienteering course;

• use tactical medical and Soldier Army Warrior Tasks skills and drills in a simulated field environment at the Medical Simulation Training Center;

• ruck march about six miles with a heavy rucksack on the back and

• clear an obstacle course — this was a mystery event, unknown to the Soldiers until just before

start time.All competitors earned

two four-day passes for participating. Han and Proctor picked up prizes from each of the region’s eight dental activities, including an Army Commendation Medal and $100 gift certificate from USAA.

Please see DENTAC, PAGE 11

December 2010 www.mamc.amedd.army.mil page 2

MADIGAN MEMORIES

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION ARCHIVES

The Madigan Healthcare System Strategic Communication Office will publish photos and cutlines in The Mountaineer throughout 2010 to show the history and culture that is Madigan.

This cover illustration dates back to November 23, 1951, when a Madigan General Hospital patient drew a picture for the Madigan Messenger that repre-sented all the activities the hospital was involved in. The cover also recognizes the Messenger’s third anniversary as the command information newspaper at Madigan.

As we say goodbye to 2010 and hello to 2011, the words written for the paper’s anniversary still ring true today: “But whatever our past three years has been, they are gone and we look hope-fully to the year coming, trusting that our many friends who sailed into the setting sun will return, and despite its messiness we have the opportunity to use many more colored inks!”

IN BRIEF

Hospital signage initiative moving forwardMadigan Healthcare System is in the process of re-

placing all of the interior, exterior and directional sig-nage located throughout the hospital. The primary pur-pose of this project to improve how patients and visitors navigate through the facility.

The actual replacement of the signage started Dec. 6, on the 8th floor, and will be working down through the Hospital Tower, into the Medical Mall, and finally, to the parking lots and hospital exterior. Work is expected to be ongoing until approximately March.

Work is being performed by J&J Maintenance and 2/90 Sign Systems under contract through Facility Man-agement Division. Facility Management Division is co-ordinating with departments when work is being accom-plished in specific areas. The contractor is not authorized to make any changes.

If name sign changes are required, submit a MAMC Form 758 to Facility Management Division and changes will be made as soon as possible.

For more information, please call Erich Demorest or Mike Carico at 253-968-0311.

Madigan Ophthalmology Exceeds StandardsCongratulations to Col. Mark Nelson, Maj. Travis

Frazier and their program administrator Sue Marshall, for their outstanding performance in exceeding national standards on accreditation cycle length for the ophthal-mology training program!

The five year inspection cycle awarded to Ophthalmology is the highest honor awarded by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and a fitting culmination to Nelson’s career with his upcoming retirement.

MEDCOM Employee Engagement SurveyBeginning later this month, the U.S. Army Medical

Command will roll-out MEDCOM SPEAKS, its Employee Engagement Survey. The MEDCOM SPEAKS Employee Engagement Survey provides employees with the opportunity to share their views regarding the work environment across MEDCOM and within its various subordinate and regional commands. More specifically, the objectives of MEDCOM SPEAKS are to:

• Understand employees’ satisfaction levels with MEDCOM as a whole, their Organization, department, unit and job;

• Conduct root cause analysis regarding dissatisfaction levels within specific employee groups; and

• Identify incentives/corrective actions/policy changes to address dissatisfied employee groups.

The implementation of MEDCOM SPEAKS will permit senior leaders the ability to analyze aggregated Employee Engagement Survey results that include all Medical Treatment Facilities, dental Clinics and non-clinical units.

The survey will be administered on-line, and precise dates will be communicated when available. Participation is voluntary and responses will be kept completely confidential. Results will be analyzed and they will give us information on where to focus our actions based on the findings. Employees will be randomly selected to complete the survey, and all answers are confidential.

For questions about the survey, please contact the MEDCOM SPEAKS Employee Engagement Survey support help desk at army.medcom.speaks@us.army.mil or call 703-681-5823.

TriWest Healthcare Alliance has a

new Disease Management program for major depression now being offered to eligible West Region TRICARE beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries suffering from major depression, also known as clinical depression, can receive extra help through TriWest Healthcare Alliance. They manage the TRICARE military healthcare entitlement on behalf of the Department of Defense for 21 western states.

Major depression is the most common depressive disorder. More than 20 million Americans have been diagnosed with depression according to the National Institutes of Health—about the equivalent of New York State’s population.

Clinical depression is a disabling disease characterized by persistent and enduring sadness, unhappiness and negativity that interfere with one’s daily life. Generally, a person who

is depressed also exhibits at least three other symptoms, such as sleep disturbance, significant drop in energy levels, weight gain or loss and frequent irritability.

TriWest’s Disease Management department also offers support to beneficiaries with diabetes, asthma, lung diseases and heart failure. The depression program, launched by TriWest in November, is a no-cost entitlement for those who are eligible.

Eligibility is determined by TRICARE and is based on claims history. Once a beneficiary is identified as eligible to participate in the program, the DoD refers the beneficiary to TriWest.

A Disease Management health coach then contacts the beneficiary and invites him or her to participate in the program.

The Major Depression Disease Management Program has a number of services to help beneficiaries including a health coach who works with the beneficiary and the primary care

By TriWest Healthcare AlliancePress Release

manager to tailor an action plan. The health coach will then work with the beneficiary until the plan’s goals are met. As needed, the beneficiary can also access smoking cessation, exercise, medication and nutrition help from his or her TriWest health coach.

TriWest also works alongside the Military Health System to offer additional behavioral health resources to support those in need, including the TRICARE Assistance Program.

Here, eligible beneficiaries, including services members and their Families, can access private, confidential counseling sessions 24/7 with a licensed therapist via Internet (Skype), chat or over the telephone.

These sessions are non-clinical and intended for general life issues, such as stress management or relationship problems.

For more information, visit www.triwest.com/onlinecare. Beneficiaries can find additional resources at www.triwest.com/depression and www.tricare.mil.

TriWest offers new service for depressionNew disease management program now available to beneficiaries

Around the AMEDDDecember 2010 www.mamc.amedd.army.mil page 3

The Army is using a new computer-based

tracking system to provide more consistent care for injured Soldiers.

The program, called e-Profile, is replacing the practice of hand-written temporary profiles for Soldiers. A profile allows Soldiers to opt out of certain physical activities temporarily while they recover from illness or injury.

The problem with hand-written profiles is that there is no way to track them, as they aren’t entered into a database, and they can be easily lost, said Col. Kelly Wolgast, chief nurse executive of U.S. Army Medical Command. Wolgast explained that problems would arise when Soldiers would report to a new unit. No record of the Soldiers’ prior injuries would come with them.

e-Profile now keeps a permanent digital record of temporary injuries by

connecting with the Medical Protection System, known as MEDPROS, the Army’s medical database. That way, if a Soldier is injured while training on another post or has an appointment with a new doctor, medical personnel can immediately see the Soldier’s profile history.

“We were looking for tools to provide education to commanders about the management of medically not-ready Soldiers,” Wolgast said of the program.

Initiated as a pilot program this summer at Ireland Army Community Hospital at Fort Knox, Ky., and Winn Army Community Hospital at Fort Stewart, Ga., medical management centers aim to ensure Soldiers tend to even minor injuries so they can return to their units and be prepared for deployments.

“The impacts of preparing for, conducting, and returning from combat have clearly impacted the Army, and we know Soldiers have medical issues that they don’t attend

to,” Wolgast said. She said Soldiers sometimes ignore ailments, but small injuries can turn into more serious ones if left unattended.

Army aims to better track injured Soldiers

“If Soldiers are not as healthy as they can be, it’s not good for the Soldier(s) or their unit,” Wolgast explained.

The pilot, which will

By Alexandra Hemmerly-BrownArmy News Service

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end at the end of November, will transition into an implementation phase throughout the Army in December.

Sgt. Michael Poindexter, a paratrooper assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), closes in on the finish line of a two-mile run during an Army Physical Fitness Test, April 18 at Camp Ramadi, Iraq.

A smart phone mobile application developed

by the Department of Defense makes it easier for service members, veterans and Families monitor their emotional health as they cope with psychological experiences from combat deployments.

The T2 Mood Tracker, released this week by the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, helps users monitor trends of emotions and behaviors from therapy, medication, daily experiences and changes in their environment such as work and home.

“Therapists and physicians often have to rely on patient recall when trying to gather information about symptoms over the previous weeks or months. Research has shown

T2 “Mood Tracker” for combat veterans releasedBy Joe Jimenez

National Center for Telehealth and Technology

that information collected after the fact, especially about mood, tends to be inaccurate,” said Dr. Perry Bosmajian,

psychologist with the National Center for Telehealth and Technology.

“This application can

improve the quality of the treatments for the provider and the patient. The best record of an experience is when it’s recorded at the time and place it happens.”

Bosmajian and other psychologists and software developers at the center, known as T2, created the application for users to track and record emotional experiences for a few days to several months to see results over time.

The results can also be shared with therapists and physicians to monitor a patient’s behavior throughout a treatment plan.

The application is now available for smart phones using the Android operating system. It will be available for iPhone users early next year.

T2 Mood Tracker was recently recognized as a

Dr. Greg Gahm, director of T2 and Dr. Tammy Crowder, chief of staff at the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) check out the T2 Mood Tracker App using the link from the QR code. (Photo by Dr. Anita Brown, T2)

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winner in the “Apps for the Army” application development challenge. After further development and beta testing, the application is now available to the public.

During the beta testing phase, more than 2,800 users around the world downloaded the application.

The National Center for Telehealth and Technology is a center with the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Located on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., it is the primary office of responsibility in the Defense Department for integrating technology with psychological health and traumatic brain injury care.

More information about T2 Mood Tracker is available at www.t2health.org/apps.

OpinionDecember 2010 www.mamc.amedd.army.mil page 4

MAILBAG

Dear Col. Penner,

Thank you and your staff for the personal support and assistance in allowing the behavioral health staff to provide screenings, and face-to-face interviews for the 467th Medical Detachment (Combat Stress Control).

They received excellent care and professional attention during their screenings. Andrea Zuniga, Dr. Colette Candy and all the Behavioral Health Specialists were very kind and considerate to the Soldiers. It was greatly appreciated.

Very Respectfully,L.P. ChangMajor General, Army ReserveCommanding General807th Medical Command

Dear Col. Penner,

Just a note to say thank you for the help you gave me while enrolling in TRICARE Plus. My husband, a 100 percent disabled veteran, and I spent several anxious days about my health care when I went to pick up diabetic supplies and I was told I was no longer able to get them because I didn’t have a primary care provider. Our worst fear was that we would have to find a provider for me outside the military treatment facility.

Your kindness, understanding and helpfulness put our minds at ease. I have been treated in Military Treatment Facilities for years. My favorite is Madigan.

I have always been treated with the best of care at each of the mentioned facilities and found my providers to continually go the extra mile to serve my health care needs. The thought of having to go elsewhere was disconcerting as I am so comfortable and happy with my care at MTFs throughout the past 30+ years.

Everyone with whom I have come in contact to date has been well versed, personable, more than helpful and down to earth. This includes Kathy Canny, Susan Smith and Burton Kerr. I am a continual patient in dermatology and Lt. Col. (Dr.) Thomas Hirota has gone above and beyond the call of duty in helping me through my skin care woes.

Thank you again for your help.

DEE, Olympia

Madigan Healthcare System’s The Mountaineer is an unof-ficial monthly offset newspaper for the Madigan Healthcare System, authorized under the provisions of AR 360-1.

Contents in this publication are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the Department of Defense, Depart-ment of the Army and Madigan Healthcare System.

For information about The Mountaineer or to submit a story idea, contact Madigan Healthcare System Strategic Commu-nication Office’s The Mountaineer Editor Lorin T. Smith at 253-968-3821, or lorin.smith@us.army.mil. Circulation: 2,000

CommanderCol. Jerry Penner IIIStrategic Communication DirectorJay EbbesonCommand Information Officer/EditorLorin T. SmithAssistant EditorTawny M. DotsonStaff WriterTom Bradbury Jr.Warrior Transition Battalion Public AffairsSuzanne Ovel

The Mountaineer Since 1948

How a tree brought a community togetherBy Tom Bradbury Jr.Community Relations Officer

In downtown Tacoma, a 65-foot-tall Douglas fir stands as

a testament to what it means to be a community. More than 1,000 community members gathered when the tree was lit for the holidays and then dedicated by the City of Tacoma to the country’s fallen Soldiers.

For those in attendance and the thousands more who will see it every night this season, the tree displays holiday spirit. For those of us who worked together to get it there, four Army units and four city departments, it stands for much more. Moving a 6,500-pound tree from the training area of Joint Base Lewis-McChord to the streets of Washington’s third largest city, truly shows the success of a relationship that has gone on for nearly 100 years, and a holiday celebration that marked its 65th year.

The night of the lighting, representatives from Tacoma and Madigan Healthcare System spoke of the ties that bind JBLM to its surrounding community. The relationship, over the years, has been mutually beneficial more times than anyone could count. The tree is a significant joint undertaking that symbolizes that relationship. Having been a Soldier here, an Army employee here, and a civilian member of the community I deeply appreciate that relationship and was more than proud to be a part of it.

Madigan, in its role as the JBLM community connector to Tacoma, spearheaded the monumental movement for the first time this year.

U.S. Army Garrison has been the Community Connector and headed up the project for the past 10 years. Before that, I Corps was the annual lumberjack. In my role as Madigan’s Community Relations officer, and therefore the organizer, this was going to be a first for me too.

Tree cutting was certainly uncharted territory. Madigan would not be cutting the tree with a scalpel, we also don’t have a lot of heavy construction equipment. When the hospital asked the engineers that have the tools to cut a tree down they too had to do a double take. A tall task, literally, from an unlikely source. I found a guru in Sgt. First Class Terry Harp of the 555th Engineer Brigade, and a sage in the ways of Army tasking in Madigan’s Frank Moren. Without either of them, there would be no Christmas in Tacoma.

Under the leadership of Harp, the Soldiers of the 555th Engineer Brigade stepped up in a big way. They built a cradle that would hold the tree on a transport truck without breaking any branches, and then began to analyze how to cut down such a large tree. It was 75 feet tall in nature, 10 feet of that is now buried in the ground to keep it standing. Chevy Chase would have cringed at the idea.

The engineers determined this was not something they could do on their own. In came the JBLM Directorate of Logistics who had a crane to move the tree from standing to laying on the truck. What DOL did not have was the ability to hold the tree in place to prevent it from falling after it was cut. From here, the

operation truly became a community project. The city of Tacoma’s Public Utilities Department provided a crew that could cut the tree and a brave soul to ride a bucket loader to the top then secure a harness that would latch onto DOL’s crane.

Once firmly in place on a cradle built by Soldiers the tree, cut by public servants was carefully escorted by both Military and Tacoma Police. The package held a relationship too important and too large to ride home on the top of the Family wagon. After making its way downtown, the tree found itself back in the ground for all to enjoy.

Residents of Tacoma gathered to see the 65th annual tree lighting Saturday Nov. 27 at the Pantages Theater. The tree was given to the city by Madigan and Joint Base Lewis-McChord and dedicated to the men and women of the Armed Forces who have lost their lives.

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Flu SeasonAll beneficiaries age

9 and up can receive their flu vaccine at the:

TAX CENTER(across from Letterman

Auditorium, on the Ground Floor of the Medical Mall

at Madigan)

Madigan Flu Hotline: 253-968-4744

December 2010 WWW.MAMC.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL page 5

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The “Green Team” at Madigan Healthcare System set up an

America Recycles Day booth Nov. 16 in the breezeway at Madigan Healthcare System to educate patients and staff on the options available for recycling at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The booth displayed recycled and biodegradable products available at the JBLM Express Store and the simple steps available to decrease litter on base.

A team of volunteers manned the display discussing the many options available at Madigan to be green. This included a team from the JBLM Express who offered suggested products available for green cleaning and use.

“I was glad to know that our contractors are actually utilizing some of the more biodegradable materials when they are doing their cleaning,” said Lt. Col. Amy Trevino, assistant chief of Physical Therapy, who visited the booth. “I think that’s better, safer for our patients and for our staff.”

The display also featured a section discussing the Rideshare program at JBLM in addition to a free raffle for two donated JBLM Morale, Welfare and Recreation trips. Currently, Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Recycling

Center, located on the corner of 12th and Nevada streets, accepts for free: yard waste, clean wood, tires with or without rims, mixed paper, glass, some electronics and metal, plastics, some computer equipment and clothes.

Madigan has more than 300 recycling locations throughout the hospital and outlying clinics. Those recycling locations accept mixed paper, cardboard and some metals. Used toner cartridges can be dropped off in Will Call or by contacting Environmental Health at 253-968-4331. Batteries can also be recycled at Madigan through collection buckets and turned into Logistics when full or they have been collecting for a year.

The “Green Team” at Madigan is made up of about 12 people from varying areas of the System. The team meets regularly to support the JBLM Sustainability goals. They support projects for increasing opportunities to buy green products on base, increasing air quality, decreasing net waste, sustainable training, and employing technology to treat Madigan’s waste.

Recently, the team championed a project to use reusable chinaware in the Dining Facility at Madigan and a project to recycle plastics from the operating rooms. The future for the “Green Team” is work on recycling

single use medical tools. “I Recycle” was the theme of the

2010 America Recycles Day. Since 1997, communities across the country have come together on Nov. 15 to celebrate America Recycles Day. More than a celebration, America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized

day dedicated to the promotion of recycling programs in the United States.

Lt. Col. Douglas Onkst is the chairman for the “Green Team”. For more information, contact Mike Kyser, “Green Team” recorder, at 253-968-0949.

By Tawny M. DotsonStaff Writer

Madigan’s ‘Green Team’ celebrates ‘America Recycles Day’

Lt. Col. Amy Trevino speaks with Dave Oaks (left) and Harry Taylor from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Express Supply Store about biodegradable and environmentally friendly products available for use at the hospital. The store has a number of biodegradable cleaning products as well as a number of recycled products such as tissues and toilet paper.

Soldiers who are ready to push their bodies beyond

their breaking point can now join Sgt. Kenniston Carpenter’s Pre-Select group. This group of Soldiers are working together to motivate each other on the path to Special Forces Assessment and Selection.

Carpenter recognized a need for the group during his own training in preparation for SFAS. After passing SFAS, he realized there were more Soldiers out there aiming to join him. He saw the need at Madigan Healthcare System for a support system for Special Forces Soldier; he decided to fill it by creating Pre-Select.

The training course is designed to challenge service members and train them in common Soldier tasks necessary for successful completion of Special Forces Assessment and Selection.

The course provides intensive physical training and instruction in common Soldier skills and

tasks like ruck marching and land navigation. The goal of each activity is to push them further than they would on their own. For instance, Soldiers are rucking with at least 70-pound packs rather than the Army’s typical 45 pounds. Carpenter believes this helps to push them to the next level.

Pre-Select is a Madigan program spearheaded by Bravo Company and is open to any Joint Base Lewis-McChord Soldier.

While Carpenter is not allowed to provide details of the SFAS process, he can help Soldiers by providing a group environment where they can push each other physically and learn to support each other while honing skills.

“I leave for Selection at the end of the month and this is a final push for me. [Special Forces] is what I joined the Army to do. I’ve always wanted to be a part of the best. I feel like I have more to offer than just what I’m currently doing,” said Sgt. Harley Shanklin, a Soldier attending Pre-Select.

Carpenter’s hope is that the training will not only assist with their physical fitness but, the course will provide motivation and support for like-minded Soldiers.

“A big part of doing this is a sense of Family. That’s really big in the Special Forces community. When things do start to suck a little bit, you can rely on your buddy because he worked out with you,” said Cpl. Gregory Gillen, another Pre-Select participant.

“The secondary effect of people getting together and getting some good training is that they will develop relationships with other motivated troops and grow their work-out partner Rolodex,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter was selected to attend Airborne school in February.

The first Pre-Select course graduated Nov. 15 with four Soldiers from Madigan participating.

For more information, call Bravo Company, Troop Command at 253-968-4245.

By Tawny M. DotsonStaff Writer

Soldier leads others ready to take Special Forces challenge

Spc. Charlie Mays is followed by Cpl. Gregory Gillen during a ruck march for Pre-Select. The Soldiers are carrying 70-pound rucks during the two-week intensive physical training course, which assist with their preparation for Special Forces Assessment and Selection.

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December 2010 WWW.MAMC.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL page 6

Madigan makes teen mental health care a team effort

By Tawny M. DotsonStaff Writer

The help for teens suffering from

depression-related issues does not stop with their primary care managers at Madigan Healthcare System. A team of behavioral health clinics and providers are ready to assist with their needs, deployment-related or not.

“For many issues you can’t just treat the teen. You have to help the Family to work together to change the environment or teach the Family a solution to work together better,” said Dr. David DeWine, pediatric psychologist in Madigan’s Adolescent Specialty Clinic.

“Deployment is going to cause stress on everybody.”

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, while most Families and children manage successfully, it is important for parents to be aware of signs of stress and possibly serious problems. The responses of children to stress of separation are determined by their individual makeup and developmental age. Teenagers (13 to 18 years old) may be rebellious, irritable or more challenging of authority. Parents need to be alert to high-risk behaviors such as problems with the law, sexual acting out, and drug or alcohol abuse.

“Be aware of falling school grades, stomach or headaches, sleep problems, withdrawing from friends, not participating in their normal activities. Any

of those things can be kind of the typical warning signs of problems emerging,” said Dr. Lindsay Paden, chief of the Child and Family Assistance Center, who oversees the behavioral health services provided to teens.

Parents who would like assistance with understanding how to encourage a positive relationship with their children during deployment can reach out to Madigan’s Family Assistance for Maintaining Excellence Clinic, or seek a referral to the Child Guidance Clinic.

FAME is a counseling clinic established to see Family members for deployment-related behavioral health issues. During operating hours, the clinic has walk-in availability for parents who would like to speak with someone Monday through

Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon. Appointments are also available for adolescents and children.

Parents and spouses who are feeling stressed, depressed or anxious, or children who are struggling with a parent’s deployment, can receive support without a referral from their primary care provider. FAME does not conduct marital therapy, but works with individuals and families to provide support and counseling before, during and after deployments.

The Child Guidance Clinic sees patients up to age 18. They work with some of the more long-term, severe cases that may require hospitalization. Child Guidance requires providers issue referrals to use its services.

The CAFAC is in the process of adding a new

Going for gold: Two new sustainable buildings at JBLM

Alchemists of old spent lifetimes trying

to change lead into gold. Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers transforms buildings into gold in just one year.

Two buildings, located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, plan to achieve gold certification under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

“The LEED green building certification program is an internationally recognized

system for providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts,” according to the website for the U.S. Green Building Council, the organization that manages the LEED program.

“Several projects are on track to achieve LEED certification,” said Jeanette Fiess, Seattle District’s acting chief, Specifications and Technical Review and LEED accredited professional. “We recently submitted five Seattle District projects to USGBC for review. It can take three to six months to complete the certification process.”

The LEED process starts at the beginning of the design phase with the official scorecard.

The scorecard identifies all of the possible building features that the team can count toward a LEED certification point.

Under the LEED version 2.2 rating tool, it takes 33

LEED points to achieve a silver rating and 39 for gold.

“In the Pacific Northwest it is easy to target LEED silver because of the sustainable culture, available materials and manageable weather climate,” Fiess said. “This area is a good example of what USGBC calls ‘market transformation.’”

The newly opened Nisqually Medical and Fulton Dental Clinics and Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility are currently on track to achieve LEED Gold certification.

“The clinic features several sustainable, environmentally-friendly features, which benefit patients and staff, and supports Joint Base-Lewis McChord’s Installation Sustainability Program,” said Chuck Cole, project manager for the Madigan Heathcare System’s Facilities Management Division.

Energy efficiency also played a big role in construction — both on the outside and inside of the building.

As a giant service garage, the TEMF presented unique challenges for the team to obtain LEED credits. But team members said they overcame some obstacles and are on pace for 47 points for

LEED certification.The team now awaits the

results of their application for LEED gold certification.

“When we first started going through the LEED scorecard, we only intended to be LEED silver,” Nolan said. “But the project performed better than intended.”

LEED certification costs from $2,000 to $20,000, depending on the square footage of building.

This amount doesn’t include the added costs for more expensive products, including paint without volatile organic compounds, environmentally friendly flooring products and solar materials, just to name a few.

“There are several key benefits to using LEED features,” Fiess said. “The energy and water savings provide a large return on investment. Various products, proper ventilation and natural lighting make for a healthier work environment, which equates to more productive employees. The local economy also benefits from contractors buying local materials.”

This list of benefits includes only a few of those listed by Fiess. She also stressed that JBLM raises the bar when it comes to sustainability.

By Andrea TakashU.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The newly created rain gardens at the Nisqually Medical and Fulton Dental Clinics.

Editor’s Note: This is the final piece in a three-part series on what Madigan’s health care team is doing to care for our Soldiers’ teenagers

service for struggling teens by hiring a counselor who will exclusively treat teenagers experiencing issues with substance abuse. This is a service not necessarily available at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, according to Paden.

Families should be vigilant to monitor teens before, during and after deployments.

“More commonly neglected or unexpected is that the problems don’t just happen when mom or dad leaves. The adjustment back is almost just as unsettling,” DeWine said. “A lot of times teens are asked to be an adult in the home when someone is gone, and that role is often unclearly defined when the parent comes home.”

For more information from Child Guidance, call 253-968-6880. To contact the FAME clinic, call 253-968-4843.

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Madigan HeroesDecember 2010 www.mamc.amedd.army.mil page 7

Madigan graduates first Emergency Nurses Course classCol. R. Neal David presents Lt. Cdr. Ruby Elikem Amegavluie her diploma for graduating the Critical Care/Emergency Room Nursing Course at Madigan Healthcare System Nov. 23. Amegavluie is part of the Republic of Ghana Navy.

Madigan EO Leader receives MEDCOM Award

Staff Sgt. Misty Jackson, Western Regional Medical Command, has been selected as the 2010 Army Medical Command Equal Opportunity Leader of the Year.

Jackson serves as the Equal Opportunity Leader at Madigan Healthcare System. She was recognized for her significant contributions to human relations and Equal Opportunity programs for the MEDCOM, directly impacting the readiness of Madigan organizations, the MEDCOM, and the Army.

Meritorious Service MedalMaj. Frank Schitoskey

Army Achievement MedalStaff Sgt. Yursula WatsonSgt. William Eskridge Sgt. Carlos NanezSpc. Trisha Ronk

Surgical Technologist GraduationPfc. Alejandro CastanedaPfc. Kelli CroftonPfc. Jasmine KerrPfc. Benjamin Parvi

Commander’s CoinCol. Michael Buley Lt. Col. Katherine SimonsonLt. Col. Gayla Wilson Maj Marc HultquistCapt. Adrian Algarra Capt. Joseph BorgCapt. Scott MartinCapt. Susan PiersonCapt. Angela TagueCapt. Ashley Urick1st. Sgt. Kristopher RickSgt. 1st Class Eric GregorySfc. 1st Class Shannon SwordsStaff Sgt. Alicia PersondekStaff Sgt. Rodriquez Fields Anthony Baker Tanya Brosier Dawn CharetteMandy GillerLori LoanKelly Roy

Service AwardsLeslie Miller — 10 yearsRich Henderson — 25 yearsBarbara Trigger — 25 years

Certificate of Recognition — QPINSCol. Janice LehmanLt. Col. Leila BrownLt. Col. Katherine SimonsonMaj. John ViningMaster Sgt. Ruben RubinosStaff Sgt. Robert GenzelSandra KneibRonni McColpinHylie Jan PresseyKelly Roy

Medical Laboratory Technician GraduationSgt. Bradley Roeske

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Spc. Alejandro BarajasPfc. Cory BannanPfc. Shawn McLoughlinPfc. Jess SmithPfc. Ethan UseltonPfc. Dusty EdwardsSpc. William CaspersonSpc. Marcus MurguiaPfc. Michael WalterPfc. Christopher HathawayPvt. Jaime Valencia

DOAOS awardsThe Department of Anesthesia and Operative Services recently announced its 2010 award winners. The winners are:

Civilian Surgical Tech of the YearKarissa YohoCMS Technicians of the YearSpc. Muakongmeng YangCorina ArrietaMilitary Surgical Tech of the YearSpc. Corneille ChurchCivilian Perioperative Nurse of the YearTamie FrederickMilitary Perioperative Nurse of the YearMaj. Mark Wimmer

Warrior Transition Battalion Certificates of AchievementSgt. 1st Class John GillisSgt. 1st Class Briant WigginsStaff Sgt. Margaret KeatingSgt. Edward Brock IIISgt. George CloySgt. James DworshakSgt. John HoltSgt. Raymond LaycoSgt. John PeakSgt. Ivan SanchezSpc. Nathan MillerSpc. Roger ScherfSpc. Steven Vance

WTB NewsDecember 2010 www.mamc.amedd.army.mil page 8

Out of the Fire,Back Into the Fight

Out of the Fire,Back Into the Fight

About 200 Warrior Transition Battalion members

and community representatives attended the annual WTB Caregiver Appreciation Dinner Nov. 5 in Lakewood, Wash.

The evening included a keynote address by disabled Vietnam Vet-eran Jim Martinson.

It also featured a comedy show and an opportunity to recognize community groups that contribute greatly to WTB Soldiers and programs.

Also at the event, WTB cadre and staff chosen by Soldiers as exceptional caregivers were given awards.

Award categories for WTB staff

By Suzanne OvelWarrior Transition Battalion Public Affairs included Company Civilian Support

Staff of the Year, won by Tasha Carpenter with Charlie Company.

“Being acknowledged by the Soldiers for the work I do here is a feeling I can only describe as humbling,” Carpenter, a human resources specialist said.

“I truly believe in the mission of the Warrior Transition Battalion; assisting our country’s defenders at a time when they need support the most is a gratifying experience,” Carpenter said.

“I love my job and approach each day at work operating on one simple premise: care for these Soldiers in the manner I would want someone to care for my spouse, child, or sibling, Carpenter said. “I believe we have an exceptional support staff here and

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Tasha Carpenter gives an impromptu acceptance speech after winning Company Civilian Support Staff of the Year, while Warrior Transition Battalion Charlie Co. Soldiers support her.

I am honored to have been a small part of an amazing organization.”

The event recognized the outstanding work of squad leaders, who are the backbone of Soldier leadership and advocacy in the WTB.

“My squad and platoon rock! It is easy to go to work every day when you love what you do and care about the people you work with,” said Sgt. Ivan Sanchez, of Alpha Co., who won Squad Leader of the Year.

Other awards given to the WTB staff were Staff Sgt. Michael McDowell for Platoon Sergeant of the Year; Lizbeth Escobar for Nurse Case Manager of the Year; and Phyllis Lang, a certified occupational therapist assistant, for Battalion Support Staff of the Year.

Several community groups and

individuals also received accolades for contributing to recreational events, adaptive sports, and Soldiers’ overall quality of life and recovery.

WTB recognizes caregivers

Wanda Motonaga, a volunteer with Soldiers’ Angels, accepts a Caregiver’s Appreciation award from Warrior Transition Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Danny Dudek at the Caregiver’s Appreciation Din-ner Nov. 5.

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December 2010 WWW.MAMC.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL page 9

‘Windtalker’ provides Madigan insight into WWIIBy Tawny M. Dotson

Staff Writer

One might think that Dr. Barney Old Coyote’s service

in the Army Air Corps during World War II was breaking traditions of sorts. In reality, he was doing what his ancestors had always done by enlisting to fight alongside the white people.

“My ancestry has not fought against the white people,” Old Coyote said. “Instead we fought alongside them. So it is that when my brother and I joined the military in World War II, we were keeping up a tradition of Crow Indians wearing the American uniform.”

Old Coyote enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the age of 17 shortly after Pearl Harbor. It took him a few days to convince his mother to provide him with the written permission necessary to join as a minor. He spent just over three years in the Army Air Corps serving as a gunner on the A-20 Havoc and the B-17 Flying Fortress. In those three years he became the most decorated American Indian in World War II with 17 awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters. In fact, he garnered those Air Medals on his 72 combat missions in the two aircraft.

“Time was moving fast in those days. A whole lifetime went by you in less than a month. Everything was compacted in those few years that World War II was here,” Old Coyote said.

Old Coyote was the featured guest at Madigan Healthcare System’s annual National American Indian Heritage event. He discussed his time working with the Army Air Corps during World War II where he served alongside his brother Henry Old Coyote and was a “Windtalker” in Europe and Northern Africa. As a “Windtalker” Old Coyote spoke the Crow language to communicate strategic war information since experts were unable to decipher the language.

“Those were long missions as we would fly over Germany and if we changed targets or flew around cloud cover, we would break radio silence and we would talk Crow. We were called ‘code talkers’ but we didn’t talk code at all. We talked the Crow language which was better than a code anyway,” said Old Coyote.

During the War, Old Coyote and his brother served in the 62nd Bomb Group and would separate for long flights over Germany. When strategic information, such as flight paths, needed to be shared he would speak on the radio with his brother to pass along the message without interception from the Germans.

“We talked like we were sitting next to each other. We wouldn’t use German or English words. We used Crow all the

Chief Leschi School’s Drum and Dance group perform at Madigan’s National American Indian Heritage Month event Nov. 15 in Letterman Auditorium. The 35-member group performed three songs to the packed audience.

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way through,” Old Coyote said.According to Old Coyote, during

World War II only around 11,000 people spoke the Crow language. The language remains an endangered language today as he estimates only around 1,800 Crow Indians speak the language.

Since his time in the War, Old Coyote has focused on cultural, religious, language and preservation of the Crow Indian traditions. In fact, he wrote a book entitled Way of the Warrior with the help of his brother to record stories and traditions in Crow. Old Coyote’s granddaughter, Phenocia Bauerle, worked with Old Coyote to translate the stories and published them in 2003. Old Coyote went on to continue his education and serve as a teacher of Native American studies. He has served in the Interior Department and continues to practice and disseminate Crow values.

Madigan Healthcare System celebrated National American Indian Heritage Month Nov. 15 in Letterman Auditorium with the Chief Leschi Schools and guest speaker Dr. Barney Old Coyote.

A unique blessing started the event when Ieeta and TwoBears Lees gave the traditional blessing.

TwoBears used Native American

signs for the invocation.Chief Leschi School’s Drum and

Dance group then performed a series of songs and dances including an Honor Song to the audience.

The school has established a drum and dance group to share Native American culture with other cultures.

The more than 35-member group represents the school at community

American Indian heritage ceremony held in Lettermanevents and public gatherings.

Fern Renville, managing director of Seattle-based Red Eagle Soaring, told the story of White Buffalo Calf Woman.

Old Coyote closed the event discussing his time as a “Windtalker” in World War II.

The event was sponsored by Troop Command’s Bravo Company.

Dr. Barney Old Coyote speaks about his time serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Old Coyote was a B-17 gunner and flew more than 70 combat missions making him the most decorated American Indian in WWII.

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December 2010 www.mamc.amedd.army.mil page 10

Exercise! Exercise! Exercise!When it comes to joint

operations, Madigan Healthcare System and the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron recently teamed up to work together in a patient reception team exercise held at McChord Field and at Madigan Army Medical Center, Dec. 7.

As part of the exercise, Reservists from the 446th and Madigan Soldiers simulated receiving mass patients from overseas that included detailed patient care and transportation from McChord to Madigan.

The focus of the exercise was to establish a patient reception area as part of the Veterans’ Affairs and Department of Defense Contingency Hospital System for patient evacuation.

The role of the 446th AES was to provide patient care and conduct the patient hand-off

from the aircraft to the Madigan medical personnel.

“It’s a great opportunity for joint training,” said Col. Jan Moore-Harbert, 446th AES commander. “We do these exercises to get a better understanding of the agencies involved and what everybody’s roles are, so everyone can communicate properly and focus on giving patients quality care in these types of scenarios.”

The squadron has worked with the Army before, but this exercise put them in a different situation with a shorter time element and less assets, resulting in having to do more with less.

“We’ve conducted joint exercises with the Army on many occasions,” said Maj. Peter Jorgensen, 446th AES operations officer. “But this one was shorter in duration and we had limited resources. However,

it’s good to get reacquainted with our Army counterparts and educate each other on our respective missions.”

His efforts were greatly recognized by one of the main coordinators of the exercise, Lt. Col. Eric Tobiason, Madigan Healthcare System operations officer. “Jorgensen and his team got involved right from the get go,” he said. “The Air Force really embraced this (exercise) from the beginning. Jorgensen pretty much formed the mission from the aircraft portion to the hangar. We were tremendous in partnering with the execution and realism of the exercise.”

Madigan and the 446th AES taught one another how each service operates in an emergency situation such as a mass casualty exercise.

“We trained new Army personnel on how to load the aircraft, specifics on carrying

litters, and the ins and outs of taking care of different patients and loading them on the ambulances,” said Master Sgt. Pamela Higgins, 446th ASTS medical technician.

This training gives the services a better understanding of their respective missions.

“It’s really important to be able to do these exercises and work all the specific elements of training,” Moore-Harbert said. “The Air Force has a better idea of what the Army does in a joint environment and it helps break the culture and language barriers between the branches, so we can work together seamlessly.”

Overall, Jorgensen marks the exercise a success.

“I’m very pleased with the outcome and I feel all of the individuals involved in the exercise had a good experience and got in some great training

Madigan teams up with the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron to simulate moving patients while providing care

Soldiers remove a casualty from a C-17 Globemaster at McChord Field in preparation for transportation to Madigan Healthcare System during a patient movement exercise Dec. 7.

experience,” he said. “Most of all, it gave us the opportunity to learn from one another and develop processes for future events between the Army and the Air Force.”

Those future events will happen as early as August 2011.

This exercise is a precursor to a much larger exercise that will be taking place sometime in late summer 2011, Jorgensen said. It will involve all three medical squadrons from the 446th Airlift Wing and the medical units from the JBLM Lewis Main side.

The Reservists from the 446th AES are ready for that challenge.

“This was a great training opportunity for all involved and I know the 446th AES looks forward to the next opportunity to work with our Army counterparts,” Jorgensen added.

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December 2010 WWW.MAMC.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL Page 11

PECCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Families before their face-to-face visit with the health care team,” said Col. (Dr.) Gary Wheeler, the Internal Medicine consultant to the Army Surgeon General, Western Regional Medical Command chief medical information officer and Madigan’s Informatics chief.

The Patient Education Centers are designed to provide beneficiaries general health information while they are waiting for their physician appointment. That allows the patient more time to talk about specific health-related matters with their doctor, thus increasing opportunities for better care, said Andrew Reeves, marketing officer at

Madigan. “A more informed patient

population is a healthier patient population,” Reeves said.

There are 14 education centers and each cost about $2,500, broadcasting a variety of health videos during clinic hours. Madigan staff has editing rights to the videos, including inputting local phone numbers and other information. The technology driving the centers is a video-on-demand system that allows staff members to access an electronic library filled with health-related media and remotely play the content from any computer in the hospital.

According to Wheeler, the Patient Education Centers offer standardized Madigan messaging that deliver one message across

“I truly do believe that you are part of a generation that has better Warriors than we’ve ever had before — more confident, more proficient in managing and treating the asymmetric threat that faces our nation and our Army today,” said Col. Robert C. Shakespeare, JBLM DENTAC commander told all the competitors.

The two winners plan to keep up the training regimen they started months ago in preparation for the Western Region competition. Han wants to put together a training continuity book that will stay with the Fort Irwin Dental Activity that will give future competitors a leg up on preparation. Proctor wants to leave behind the essence of constantly pushing for your dreams, like he did with this competition.

“Pay attention to the details and keep pushing is the key to success,” Proctor said. “No matter how hard your feet hurt, remember that pain is weakness leaving your body and sweat is poison leaving the body, so keep it up.”

Both Han and Proctor will now compete in the U.S. Army Dental Command “Best Warrior” competition slated for January at JBLM.

DENTACCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Have you missed an appointment lately?By Tawny M. Dotson

Staff Writer

In the last three months patients not arriving at

their appointments may have cost Madigan Healthcare System nearly $1 million in provider time.

The average cost of one appointment can vary from $65 to $300. In the past three months 6,318 appointments were classified as no-shows at Madigan.

A no-show is defined as a patient who fails to show up for their appointment, shows up more than ten minutes after their appointment and the provider is unable to see them, or fails to cancel their appointment.

While Madigan’s leadership understands there are extenuating circumstances that

could affect patients’ ability to make appointments on time, they still consider the missed appointments a very serious issue.

“Patients need timely access to their providers in order to achieve the high level of quality health care we aim for,” said Col. (Dr.) Stephen Yoest, deputy commander for clinical services.

“No-shows and late arrivals prevent maximum use of their providers’ time, contributing to scheduling backlogs and impeding patients’ efforts to obtain care when they need it. In today’s challenging, resource constrained environment, we need everyone to do their best to keep their appointments so that others can get the care they expect and deserve,”

Yoest said.No-shows are an access

issue. For every appointment left open due to a no-show, someone is unable to schedule an appointment. That someone could be an active-duty Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, retiree, or a Family member. That individual will be forced to seek care later or have to visit urgent care if it is an urgent problem.

Madigan is committed to optimizing not only the quality of our care but also the quantity to minimize time away from one’s unit and maximize continuity with one’s provider, Yoest said.

A recent measure instituted to combat no-shows is providing unit commanders with a list of active duty members who did not show

up for medical appointments. The goal is to decrease the largest population of no-shows. Nearly 55 percent of Madigan’s no-shows are active duty appointments. A close second are the 30 percent of no-shows from Family members. In order to increase awareness of no-shows Madigan now also provides unit leaders with a list of active duty pending appointments to facilitate scheduling with unit mission needs.

The hospital remains committed to not turning patients away. Patients that are 10 minutes or more late for their scheduled appointment will be notified at the time of check in they are late and that their provider has other scheduled

patients. The patient will be given the opportunity to wait to see if the provider will have any other time during the day to work them in, or they may reschedule for another time. Patients will not be told they will not be seen due to late arrival at the time of check-in.

If a patient is going to be late or unable to make an appointment, there are options available to them. Even a same-day cancellation is better than a no-show. It gives the providers a chance to adjust scheduling and do something with the available time.

To cancel an appointment, patients can call the TRICARE Regional Appointment Center at 800-404-4506.

many mediums. Marketing health through different communication technologies gives patients better piece of mind in understanding their care and helps hospitals reduce burgeoning patient stress load.

“The day has come when someone who is overweight will leave knowing about Body Mass Index, to ask what their BMI is, and how they can take control of their diet and exercise program,” Wheeler said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new education centers in October. “The day has come when we can tell someone who is hopeless and feels like there are no good options, but might be afraid to admit it, that we are here and would like to help.”

The Health Education and Promotion Committee at

Madigan approves information displayed on the waiting room TVs. The committee consists of health educators, nurses, Strategic Communication staff and physicians who actively promote many health-conscious activities and events at Madigan.

Before the Patient Education Centers, health education was mainly coordinated at the clinic and department level without coordination from a single group, according to a white paper on the centers. Now, with the new technological components, hospital-wide activities will correlate to the messaging broadcasted to the beneficiaries.

Plans are underway to expand into other areas in the hospital .

Santa visits MadiganLt. Col. John VanSteenvort, Capt. Scott Martin, Col. Jerome

Penner, Santa, Command Sgt. Maj. Miguel Guante-Rojas, Mrs. Claus, Col. R. Neil David, (Front) Santa’s Helper and 1st Sgt. Kristopher Rick stop for a photo during Operation Santa Claus at Madigan Healthcare System Nov. 13.

This was the third annual event where Madigan’s Troop Command Soldiers prepared holiday care packages for Madigan’s deployed Soldiers. Items donated for the packages included Christmas decorations, music download gift cards, hand sanitizer, magazines, puzzles, Ramen noodles, body wash, CDs, DVDs, flavored coffee creamer, lotion, trail mix, playing cards, pocket games, cookies, air freshener, deodorant, baby wipes, sunscreen, beef jerky, detergent, candy and sunflower seeds.

Donations were collected from Families, friends, Madigan employees and the Madigan Family Readiness Group. It took more than three hours to package the boxes.

CommunityDecember 2010 www.mamc.amedd.army.mil page 12

Mountaineer Editorial PolicyMadigan Healthcare System has officially

published a policy concerning content published in The Mountaineer.

The policy is available on Madigan’s SharePoint and website at www.mamc.amedd.army.mil.

If you would like to provide story submissions to The Mountaineer or have a story idea, you can contact Tawny Dotson at 253-968-3279 or e-mail her at tawny.m.dotson@us.army.mil.

Blood Needed For Troops It’s that time of year again, the holidays. As with

every year, it is at this time when most donors are spending time with their Families and not available to donate. This makes it difficult to obtain the blood needed for the troops in Iraq or Afghanistan.

On average during December, the Armed Services Blood Bank Center, located at Joint Base Lewis McChord, collects less than half of the blood it needs. That is complicated because the donor center has a weekly requirement. The ASBBC cannot go out to the civilian population to conduct blood drives.

If you have an hour to spare, come to the donor center located next door to the Madigan Café at the Madigan Annex (formerly known as “Old Madigan”).

If you have any questions, you can reach the ASBBC at 253-968-1850.

Shuttle Service in operationMadigan Healthcare System has a shuttle

service in the Medical Mall parking lot that operates Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The patient shuttle is a “stretch” golf cart that can carry up to six patients at a time. The shuttle will drive up and down the parking lot picking up patients and delivering them to the Medical Mall main entrance. The shuttle will also return patients to their vehicles and will wait near the turnaround for patients. The shuttle will operate in all weather.

The expected wait times for the shuttle should be less than 10 minutes.

For more information, contact the Madigan Provost Marshal at 253-968-1515.

New Dining Facility hoursThe Madigan Healthcare System Dining Facility

will be closing its doors for breakfast at 9 a.m., starting Jan. 1. The Madigan Express eatery will open at 9 a.m. and stay open until 2:30 p.m.

For more information, call Lt. Col. Debra Hernandez at 253-968-1415.

Lt. Col. Juanita Warman Nursing Excellence Conference

The Lt. Col. Juanita Warman Nursing Excellence

Conference will be Feb. 11, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Letterman Auditorium. All are invited to attend and the event is free.

You do not want to miss this power-packed agenda. The event will kick-off with Col. (Dr) Elizabeth Bridges, keynote speaker. Topics include: Battlefield to home, Essentials of wound care, EVB: Bringing research to the bedside, Reintegrating the returning Warrior with the community, Managing a multigenerational workforce, Defensive documentation, patient medical home model and Updates in heart failure.

This event received great reviews last year. Early registration is highly encouraged as there are only 200 seats available.

To register, call Edean Bergland at 253-968-1135.

Mountaineer Editor bids farewellThis month is the final issue for our Command

Information Officer and Editor Lorin Smith. He will be joining the team at the Northwest Guardian at Joint Base Lewis-McChord soon.

Under his leadership The Mountaineer placed third in the 2009 Keith L. Ware Awards at the Department of the Army level.

His contributions to Madigan Healthcare System and this newspaper have been great and he will be missed.