thedrifter
02-12-07, 06:56 AM
Many changes under way at Lejeune's Naval Hospital
February 12,2007
CHRISSY VICK
A visit to Camp Lejeune's Naval Hospital reveals construction workers, wet paint signs and building materials - all visible signs of changes in the making.
That's how things have gone over the past seven months at the Naval Hospital since Capt. Mark C. Olesen took command.
Camp Lejeune's full-service pharmacy located at the Marine Corps Exchange has opened, allowing shoppers to get their medicine in a one-stop shop. That expansion has allowed the Naval Hospital's own pharmacy to shorten its waiting time to around 10 minutes. Those pharmacies fill around 2,000 prescriptions a day.
The hospital also completed one of its biggest projects - the Coastal Carolina Mother-Baby Unit, which opened in November and boasts 18 rooms that accommodate mother, father, baby and family. Everything from labor to delivery to recovery happens in one room now.
"The biggest part of what we do is delivering babies," Olesen said. "So giving the best care to those patients is important."
And more changes are on the way as Camp Lejeune plans for more troops, handling wounded Marines and sailors coming home from Iraq and dealing with base realignment issues.
The hospital is now gearing up to increase its services from around 160 to 200 deliveries per month by July so it can handle the transfer of patients from Cherry Point's Haliburton Naval Hospital. Haliburton was affected by the most recent base realignment and closure decision.
The hospital, which currently serves around 1,600 outpatients a day, will also see an increase in its senior patients because it's opening up some 200 enrollment vacancies to patients over 65 years old. That will help the family practice training program work with a broader mix of patients, Olesen said.
The construction and wet paint signs are part of the hospital's current project to modernize its appearance. It's the first interior renovation since the building was constructed in the 1980s, Olesen said.
With more expansion plans in motion for the coming year, it leaves a full plate for the skipper.
"We have to prepare, as the rest of the Marine Corps base does, for the anticipated expansion of the number of active-duty Marines assigned to this base," he said. "The end strength of the Marines is proposed to go up by about 30,000 overall."
To handle the increase, the Naval Hospital is working in cooperation with base and Jacksonville city officials to plan for the expansion of healthcare facilities. They hope to add more branch clinics - those located within specific units sprinkled around the local bases - and expand existing buildings.
The former Berkeley Manor Elementary School is being redesigned into the new location of the Education and Developmental Intervention Services. The department, for families with special needs children, should open later this month.
"That's the beginning of a vanguard of moving additional services closer to the people who need and use them," Olesen said. "That will in turn allow us to expand some of our existing services within this facility, because one of our challenges is we've got great people, great equipment, but we're a bit facility constrained."
The hospital is also planning to convert its racquetball building into a physical therapy clinic, a move designed to accommodate the hospital's shifting focus since the war in Iraq began in 2003.
"(The war) really has represented some tremendous challenges, but also some very rewarding opportunities to practice medicine," he said.
Naval Hospital staff members are assigned to wounded warriors as case managers to coordinate their care upon return to Camp Lejeune, he said.
"My staff chooses to work here because they believe in the mission of this hospital and the personification of that mission is taking care of our nation's fallen heroes," Olesen said. "They report how gratifying it is to take care of these impressive young warfighters."
The hospital coordinates closely with battalion aid stations and is updating its computer system capabilities to provide better, more consistent care on the base, as well as in war, Olesen said.
"We also have specialists going out to branch health clinics across Camp Lejeune, (New River) Air Station and Cherry Point in obstetrics, orthopedics and general surgery, so it's easier for (service members) to get the care they need," he said.
The hospital is focusing on improving post-deployment health care to deal with concerns such as post traumatic stress disorder.
"I foresee for the future expansion of our mental health services provided to Marines in garrison in a proactive way for those returning from war," Olesen said. "We are working hard to proactively identify people and treat those conditions before they become disabling."
At the same time, the Naval Hospital has to juggle the deployment of its own forces - about 25 recently left with II Marine Expeditionary Force, and another 25 deployed to Kuwait as part of the Expeditionary Medical Force.
To cover the shortfall, the hospital receives help from reserve units and contract providers. Olesen says partnership is key - and locally, the partnership has been better than ever.
"In addition, our staff is just tremendous about stepping up," Olesen said. "They'll work a little harder and work a little smarter to meet the health care needs.
"It's a great thing to be a part of."
February 12,2007
CHRISSY VICK
A visit to Camp Lejeune's Naval Hospital reveals construction workers, wet paint signs and building materials - all visible signs of changes in the making.
That's how things have gone over the past seven months at the Naval Hospital since Capt. Mark C. Olesen took command.
Camp Lejeune's full-service pharmacy located at the Marine Corps Exchange has opened, allowing shoppers to get their medicine in a one-stop shop. That expansion has allowed the Naval Hospital's own pharmacy to shorten its waiting time to around 10 minutes. Those pharmacies fill around 2,000 prescriptions a day.
The hospital also completed one of its biggest projects - the Coastal Carolina Mother-Baby Unit, which opened in November and boasts 18 rooms that accommodate mother, father, baby and family. Everything from labor to delivery to recovery happens in one room now.
"The biggest part of what we do is delivering babies," Olesen said. "So giving the best care to those patients is important."
And more changes are on the way as Camp Lejeune plans for more troops, handling wounded Marines and sailors coming home from Iraq and dealing with base realignment issues.
The hospital is now gearing up to increase its services from around 160 to 200 deliveries per month by July so it can handle the transfer of patients from Cherry Point's Haliburton Naval Hospital. Haliburton was affected by the most recent base realignment and closure decision.
The hospital, which currently serves around 1,600 outpatients a day, will also see an increase in its senior patients because it's opening up some 200 enrollment vacancies to patients over 65 years old. That will help the family practice training program work with a broader mix of patients, Olesen said.
The construction and wet paint signs are part of the hospital's current project to modernize its appearance. It's the first interior renovation since the building was constructed in the 1980s, Olesen said.
With more expansion plans in motion for the coming year, it leaves a full plate for the skipper.
"We have to prepare, as the rest of the Marine Corps base does, for the anticipated expansion of the number of active-duty Marines assigned to this base," he said. "The end strength of the Marines is proposed to go up by about 30,000 overall."
To handle the increase, the Naval Hospital is working in cooperation with base and Jacksonville city officials to plan for the expansion of healthcare facilities. They hope to add more branch clinics - those located within specific units sprinkled around the local bases - and expand existing buildings.
The former Berkeley Manor Elementary School is being redesigned into the new location of the Education and Developmental Intervention Services. The department, for families with special needs children, should open later this month.
"That's the beginning of a vanguard of moving additional services closer to the people who need and use them," Olesen said. "That will in turn allow us to expand some of our existing services within this facility, because one of our challenges is we've got great people, great equipment, but we're a bit facility constrained."
The hospital is also planning to convert its racquetball building into a physical therapy clinic, a move designed to accommodate the hospital's shifting focus since the war in Iraq began in 2003.
"(The war) really has represented some tremendous challenges, but also some very rewarding opportunities to practice medicine," he said.
Naval Hospital staff members are assigned to wounded warriors as case managers to coordinate their care upon return to Camp Lejeune, he said.
"My staff chooses to work here because they believe in the mission of this hospital and the personification of that mission is taking care of our nation's fallen heroes," Olesen said. "They report how gratifying it is to take care of these impressive young warfighters."
The hospital coordinates closely with battalion aid stations and is updating its computer system capabilities to provide better, more consistent care on the base, as well as in war, Olesen said.
"We also have specialists going out to branch health clinics across Camp Lejeune, (New River) Air Station and Cherry Point in obstetrics, orthopedics and general surgery, so it's easier for (service members) to get the care they need," he said.
The hospital is focusing on improving post-deployment health care to deal with concerns such as post traumatic stress disorder.
"I foresee for the future expansion of our mental health services provided to Marines in garrison in a proactive way for those returning from war," Olesen said. "We are working hard to proactively identify people and treat those conditions before they become disabling."
At the same time, the Naval Hospital has to juggle the deployment of its own forces - about 25 recently left with II Marine Expeditionary Force, and another 25 deployed to Kuwait as part of the Expeditionary Medical Force.
To cover the shortfall, the hospital receives help from reserve units and contract providers. Olesen says partnership is key - and locally, the partnership has been better than ever.
"In addition, our staff is just tremendous about stepping up," Olesen said. "They'll work a little harder and work a little smarter to meet the health care needs.
"It's a great thing to be a part of."