Vol. 24 No. 32 www.bethesda.med.navy.mil August 9, 2012 Courtesy Image A photo illustration shows the new Navy Exchange facility at Naval Support Activity Bethesda, which is currently under construction to accommodate all service members and their families. By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan Parde NSAB Public Affairs staff writer The Naval Support Activity Bethesda (NSAB) Navy Exchange (NEX) is aiming to fill approximately 200 positions over the next three months to prepare for the opening of a new 150,000 square foot facility. "The grand opening is Nov. 10," said Rick Pimentel, general manager of the NSAB NEX. "One of our main goals is to hire within the military community. We love to hire spouses and wounded warriors. This is why we are here - to support [service members] and their families, and im- prove their quality of life." The new facility is being designed as a joint service facility that is also acces- sible to individuals with special needs. "Elements of the store's con- struction are tailored for the wounded warriors, such as extra- wide aisles and handicapped acces- sible counters," said Pimentel. "We want to accommodate everyone in the military and not just certain groups of people." Pimentel said there are a variety of jobs available, and the goal is to have all positions filled prior to the store's opening. "We have full-time, part-time and flex positions," said Pi- mentel. "Flex positions are people who are not committed to any one set of hours, but may be able to adjust their hours around other part-time jobs that they might have." Preparing for a new facility's opening takes a lot of manpower, said Pimentel. "We hire in teams and phases, so these teams can help put the store together by assembling fixtures and stocking shelves. Then, the entire staff will be here for the grand open- ing," he said. To aid in their hiring efforts, the NEX will be participating in several upcoming job fairs, including a job fair hosted by NSAB, said Pimentel. "We have several job fairs planned, including the 100,000 jobs fair on Aug. 25," said Pimentel. "We will have a stand with information about the Navy Exchange, the types of jobs that we have, and how to access our website and apply for those positions. We will have people from Human Resources there along with key management staff, ready to hire." The 100,000 Jobs Mission hiring event will bring approximately 50 companies to NSAB, and attendants will be able to interview and possibly even be offered jobs on the spot, said Paul Grossman, regional work and family life coordinator for Naval Dis- trict Washington. "Everyone who comes will defi- nitely have an opportunity to talk to the many employers that will be there, and may be given opportuni- ties for employment and job offers while at the event," said Gross- man. "The companies that are com- ing are looking to hire, because they know the value that military, wounded warriors, veterans and spouses bring to their companies." In addition to the job fairs, the best way to see what positions are available at the NEX is to go online, Pimentel said. "Individuals can apply by access- ing our website, mynavyexchan ge.com, and clicking on the link 'Work For Us.' Then, you can see what jobs are available as they open up. New jobs will be posted as we en- NEX Hiring Staff for New Facility's Opening See HIRING page 8
Transcript
Vol. 24 No. 32 www.bethesda.med.navy.mil August 9, 2012
Courtesy Image
A photo illustration shows the new Navy Exchange facility at Naval Support Activity Bethesda, which is currently under construction toaccommodate all service members and their families.
By Mass CommunicationSpecialist 3rd Class
Nathan PardeNSAB Public Affairs
staff writer
The Naval Support ActivityBethesda (NSAB) Navy Exchange(NEX) is aiming to fill approximately200 positions over the next threemonths to prepare for the opening ofa new 150,000 square foot facility.
"The grand opening is Nov. 10,"said Rick Pimentel, general managerof the NSAB NEX. "One of our maingoals is to hire within the militarycommunity. We love to hire spousesand wounded warriors. This is whywe are here - to support [servicemembers] and their families, and im-prove their quality of life."
The new facility is being designed asa joint service facility that is also acces-sible to individuals with special needs.
"Elements of the store's con-struction are tailored for thewounded warriors, such as extra-wide aisles and handicapped acces-sible counters," said Pimentel. "Wewant to accommodate everyone inthe military and not just certaingroups of people."
Pimentel said there are a varietyof jobs available, and the goal is tohave all positions filled prior to thestore's opening. "We have full-time,part-time and flex positions," said Pi-mentel. "Flex positions are peoplewho are not committed to any one setof hours, but may be able to adjusttheir hours around other part-timejobs that they might have."
Preparing for a new facility'sopening takes a lot of manpower,said Pimentel.
"We hire in teams and phases, sothese teams can help put the storetogether by assembling fixtures and
stocking shelves. Then, the entirestaff will be here for the grand open-ing," he said.
To aid in their hiring efforts, theNEX will be participating in severalupcoming job fairs, including a jobfair hosted by NSAB, said Pimentel.
"We have several job fairsplanned, including the 100,000 jobsfair on Aug. 25," said Pimentel. "Wewill have a stand with informationabout the Navy Exchange, thetypes of jobs that we have, and howto access our website and apply forthose positions. We will have peoplefrom Human Resources there alongwith key management staff, readyto hire."
The 100,000 Jobs Mission hiringevent will bring approximately 50companies to NSAB, and attendantswill be able to interview and possiblyeven be offered jobs on the spot, saidPaul Grossman, regional work and
family life coordinator for Naval Dis-trict Washington.
"Everyone who comes will defi-nitely have an opportunity to talkto the many employers that will bethere, and may be given opportuni-ties for employment and job offerswhile at the event," said Gross-man. "The companies that are com-ing are looking to hire, becausethey know the value that military,wounded warriors, veterans andspouses bring to their companies."
In addition to the job fairs, thebest way to see what positions areavailable at the NEX is to go online,Pimentel said.
"Individuals can apply by access-ing our website, mynavyexchange.com, and clicking on the link'Work For Us.' Then, you can seewhat jobs are available as they openup. New jobs will be posted as we en-
NEX Hiring Staff for New Facility's Opening
See HIRING page 8
2 Thursday, August 9, 2012 The Journal
Published by offset every Thurs-day by Comprint Military Publica-tions, 9030 Comprint Court,Gaithersburg, Md. 20877, a pri-vate firm in no way connectedwith the U.S. Navy, under exclu-sive written contract with theWalter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center, Bethesda, Md. Thiscommercial enterprise newspaper is anauthorized publication for members of the mil-itary services. Contents of The Journal are notnecessarily the official views of, nor endorsedby, the U.S. Government, the Department ofDefense, or the Department of Navy. The ap-pearance of advertising in this publication, in-cluding inserts or supplements, does not con-stitute endorsement by the Department of De-fense or Comprint, Inc., of the products orservices advertised. Everything advertised inthis publication shall be made available forpurchase, use or patronage without regard to
race, color, religion, sex, nationalorigin, age, marital status, phys-ical handicap, political affiliation,or any other non-merit factor ofthe purchaser, user, or patron.Editorial content is edited, pre-pared and provided by the
Public Affairs Office, WalterReed National Military Medical
Center, Bethesda, Md. News copyshould be submitted to the Public Affairs Of-fice, Bldg. 1, 11th Floor, by noon one weekpreceding the desired publication date.News items are welcomed from all WRN-MMC complex sources. Inquiries aboutnews copy will be answered by calling (301)295-1803. Commercial advertising shouldbe placed with the publisher by telephoning(301) 921-2800. Publisher’s advertising of-fices are located at 9030 Comprint Court,Gaithersburg, Md. 20877. Classified adscan be placed by calling (301) 670-1700.
Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bethesda
Commanding Officer: Capt. Frederick (Fritz) Kass
Public Affairs Officer NSAB: Joseph MacriPublic Affairs Office NSAB: (301) 295-1803
Journal StaffStaff Writers MC3 Nathan Parde
MC3 Dion DawsonSarah MarshallSharon Renee TaylorCat DeBinderKatie BradleyHelen Hocknell
Managing Editor MC1 Ardelle Purcell
NSAB Editor MC2 John HamiltonWRNMMC Editor Bernard Little
Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterOffice of Media Relations (301) 295-5727
Fleet And Family Support Center (301) 319-4087
WRNMMC OmbudsmanJulie Bondar (443) 854-5167
NSAB OmbudsmanJojo Lim Hector (703) 901-6730
Visit us on Facebook:Naval Support Activity Bethesda page:https://www.facebook.com/NSABethesda
Walter Reed National Medical Center page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walter-Reed-National-Military-Medical-Center/295857217111107
Patient Safety AwarenessPatient Safety Awareness will be discussed dur-
ing a Lunch and Learn Session Wednesday inBuilding 10's Laurel Clark Memorial Auditoriumfrom noon to 1 p.m. Carmen C. Birk, risk managerof the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED),Department of the Navy, a registered nurse andmicrobiologist, will address Health and HumanServices Partnership for Patients. Dr. Chin HeeKim, of Walter Reed Bethesda's General InternalMedicine Department, will discuss decreasinghospital readmission rates. Victor Mosley, a LeanSix Sigma Green Belt and leader of the multidis-ciplinary team at Walter Reed Bethesda will dis-cuss decreasing hospital acquired conditions atthe event. For more information, call Suzie Little,patient safety service chief, at 301-295-6236.
Women's Equality DayA Women's Equality Day program is scheduled
for Aug. 23 at 11:30 a.m. in the America Buildingatrium. The Army band Downrange will perform,and there will also be food provided at no cost atthe event. For more information, contact Sgt. 1stClass Jason Zielske at 301-400-2847 or HospitalCorpsman Oluyinka Adefisan at 301-295-6842.
Financial CounselingFree financial coaching for all service members,
federal employees, contractors, and family mem-bers is available at the Fleet and Family SupportCenter in Building 11.Assistance is available to an-alyze your credit report or credit scores; discuss re-tirement (Thrift Savings Plan) options; create abudget, and more. For more information, call 301-319-4087, or email [email protected].
cept for the first Monday of the month),Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 12:50 p.m.,and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30p.m., in Building 8, Rm. 2230 (Chaplain'sConference Room). For more information, call 301-503-1210.
Bethesda NotebookBethesda NotebookCommander’s ColumnAugust is National
Immunization Aware-ness Month. I wouldlike to take this oppor-tunity to spread theword about preventingcommunicable dis-eases. The motto forthe national web site onimmunizations is, “Vac-cines are your best shotat health” (www.vac-cines.gov). Vaccines protect us bothindividually and in larger popula-tions. As more members of our com-munity are immunized, those of usnot eligible for all immunizationssuch as infants, pregnant women, andimmunocompromised people maybenefit from a reduced risk of diseasetransmission.
There are specific immunizationsand schedules for each age group frombirth through the golden years. TheCenters for Disease Control and Pre-vention web site (www.cdc.gov/vac-cines/vpd-vac/default.htm) includes in-formation on 28 vaccine-preventablediseases. In the United States, youngchildren and school-aged childrenmust undergo a series of vaccines toprotect against 14 vaccine-preventablediseases including measles, whoopingcough (pertussis), polio, chicken pox(varicella), and two types of viral hep-atitis amongst others. Children from11 to 18 years old should have theirprevious immunizations reviewed andupdated.They should be evaluated forhuman papillomavirus and meningo-coccal immunizations also.
While it is extremely important toshield our children from the spread ofpreventable diseases, we also need toprotect ourselves as adults.
Your primary care provider (PCP)can assist you with periodically re-viewing your immunization status,aswell as advise you on new recommen-
dations such as thetetanus, diphtheria,and acellular pertussis(Tdap) immunizationand the herpes zosteror shingles immuniza-tion (now Food andDrug Administrationapproved beginning atage 50, previouslystarting at age 60).Thepneumococcal vaccine
is recommended to most of us at age65, but your PCP might recommend itat an earlier age under certain condi-tions. People of all ages, except for in-fants under 6 months old, should alsoget their seasonal influenza (flu) vac-cine.
For those of us serving in theArmedForces,vaccinations are a requirementfor our personal health and forcereadiness.Unless medically or admin-istratively exempt, service membersmust be up-to-date on required immu-nizations at all times. Current serviceguidance can be found on the MilitaryVaccine Agency web site (www.vac-cines.mil).You can take online trainingthere at the “Immunization Universi-ty” to learn about both the periodic im-munizations and the occupational, ge-ographical or command requirementsfor additional vaccinations.
Please talk to your primary careprovider about which vaccines you andyour family may need,and keep a copyof your vaccination records in a safeplace at home. You can make a differ-ence by getting vaccinated early andpreventing the spread of infectious dis-eases for our community, your familyand you! What you do matters!
Commander SendsRear Adm. Alton L. StocksMC, USNWalter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center
The Journal Thursday, August 9, 2012 3Thursday, August 9, 2012 3Thursday, August 9, 2012 3
By Cat DeBinderWRNNMC Journal
staff writer
Fleet and Family Sup-port Service at Walter ReedBethesda offers a biweeklyTransition Assistance Pro-gram (TAP) class on TRI-CARE health benefits formilitary members who areretiring or transitioning tocivilian life.
Tracy Keyser, the classinstructor, said it is impor-tant military treatment fa-cilities' providers and bene-
ficiaries are aware of TRI-CARE health care options.
"There are about 10 TRI-CARE health care optionsavailable to eligible TRI-CARE beneficiaries," saidKeyser, of Health Net Fed-eral Services (HNFS) andTRICARE educational spe-cialist for the Potomac Re-gion. "If a provider is notaware of a patient's healthcare plan, misguidance canlead to penalties and out-of-pocket expenses for the pa-tient," she said.
One objective of the
training is to create andstrengthen partnershipsbetween providers, staffand HNFS, said Keyser."Once we are aware of eachother's roles and responsi-bilities, together we canwork towards making thepatient's experience apleasant one with no delaysin receiving care."
The health benefitstraining is also conductedat the clinic level where it istailored to meet the specificneeds of each clinic, saidKeyser. "A TRICARE in-ser-
vice can provide TRICAREbasics on health options, re-ferrals, authorizations andupdates," she added.
Marine Corps Cpl. Math-ew Bowman attended theclass and said he got a lotout of it. "It had a lot of in-formation we need to knowpertaining to retirementand which TRICARE optionis best for us when gettingfamily enrolled," he ex-plained.
Marine Lance Cpl.Joshua Misiewicz also at-tended the TRICARE class,
and agreed there was infor-mation he found useful pre-sented during the class. Hesaid he learned about VAbenefits and TRICARE op-tions after retirement. Hedescribed the class as "defi-nitely beneficial."
For more informationabout the Transition Assis-tance Program, call MakitaSamson at 301-319-4087.For more information aboutthe TRICARE class, callTracy Keyser at 571-227-6687.
Transition Assistance Program Explains TRICARE Health Benefits
By Bernard S. LittleWRNMMC Journal
staff writer
To raise awarenessamong families of activeduty and wounded warriorsof the services and programsavailable to them at WalterReed National MilitaryMedical Center (WRN-MMC), a family resource fairwill be held Tuesday from 9a.m. to noon in the lobby ofthe America Building.
Family Plus Collabora-tion, the sponsor of theevent, is a group of organi-zations whose common de-nominator is providing sup-port to WRNMMC families,explained Dr. EmilySkoblar, an organizer forthe event and a clinical psy-chologist at WRNMMC. Sheis also assistant director ofOperation Building Re-silience and Valuing Em-powered Families, one ofthe participating organiza-tions for the event.
"We hope that this will bean engaging, fun and edu-cational way for active dutyfamilies to obtain informa-tion about the various de-partments and programsthat can be found in andaround the hospital thatspecialize or provide servic-es to children and families,"added John Fuller, an eventorganizer and clinical socialworker for WRNMMC's Re-siliency Services, anotherevent participant.
Fleet and Family Sup-port Center, which includesprograms for the school liai-son, new parent support,life skills, the ExceptionalFamily Member Program,counseling/advocacy and
personal finance, will alsoparticipate at the event,along with a host of addi-tional benevolent organiza-tions such as Walter ReedArts Program, Pediatric/Adolescent Social Work, Pe-diatric Hospital Dentistry,Child and Adolescent Be-havioral Health.
Skoblar said groups withmore community-orientedservices will set up alongthe corridor to the left ofthe piano in the atrium ofthe main entrance of the
America Building. Organi-zations with servicesgeared toward woundedwarriors can be found out-side of the physical and oc-cupational therapy waitingareas. Barry the Magicianwill also perform for chil-dren and families from 10to 11 a.m. in the familywaiting area of the MilitaryAdvanced Training Centerin the America Building.
"This is the first suchevent at this installation,"Skoblar added.
Skoblar said she hopesnew and existing familiesattend the fair to learnabout the range of support-ive services available tothem at WRNMMC. "If thisevent is successful, repre-sentatives of Family Plushave discussed holding reg-ular resource fairs on aquarterly or biannual ba-sis," she added.
"If a family learns of evenone service that can behelpful to them or assist inmeeting their needs, then
we have succeeded,"Skoblar said, who addedthere will be giveaways andother prizes at the event.
"Overall, our goal is toconnect our consumers toany of the resources thatthey may need to promotehealthy family living,"Skoblar continued. "We hopeto see many families there."
For more informationabout the Family ResourceFair, call Dr. Emily Skoblarat 301-319-2833 or JohnFuller at 301-295-6516.
Family Resource Fair Planned at Walter Reed Bethesda
4 Thursday, August 9, 2012 The Journal4 Thursday, August 9, 2012
By Helen HocknellNSAB Public Affairs
staff writer
Washington Metropolitan AreaTransit Authority (WMATA) officialswill be on hand at the Warrior Café10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday toanswer questions and share infor-mation about Metro accessibilityprograms.
“If you’re not used to traveling bymass transit, riding the Metro can beintimidating,” said Frank Roth, direc-tor of eligibility certification and out-reach. “We want veterans to be ableto travel with confidence, so we’rehere to make it as easy as possible.”
WMATA offers a variety of acces-sibility services to help woundedwarriors get around, including a 50percent fare discount and free trav-el training. In June, WMATA re-ceived the 2012 Innovation Awardfrom the American Public Trans-portation Association (APTA) for itsaccessibility services.
Instructors and certified orienta-tion and mobility specialists can helpfamiliarize wounded warriors withthe Metro system, teaching themeverything from how to navigate be-
tween stations to the proper methodfor securing a wheelchair duringtransit.
“For example, if you’ve got a visualimpairment, we’ll show you where tofeel for the bumps that mark theedge of the platform and how to countthe number of stops to your destina-tion,” said Gernae Weaver, WMATAsystem orientation specialist.
The training can be done in a
group setting or one-on-one, and par-ticipants are welcome to bring alongtheir non-medical attendant, who isalso eligible for a fare discount. Forhands-on instruction,WMATA train-ers can accompany wounded war-riors on whatever trip it is they wishto take – whether that’s commutinginto Washington, D.C. or just out to arestaurant for dinner with a friend.
“We’re not just putting them out
there. We’ll go with them to showthem how to do it safely and effi-ciently,” explained Roth. He addedthere’s no limit on the number of ses-sions, and the training isn’t just forwounded warriors with a physicalhandicap.
“A lot of veterans with post-trau-matic stress get a bit scared aroundcrowds, so we go along to help themovercome the stress of that environ-ment and make them comfortablewith what’s going on,” said Roth.
Weaver explained the idea is toenable customers with disabilities totravel more independently. However,some wounded warriors may be eli-gible for MetroAccess, a shared-ride,door-to-door paratransit service forpeople whose disability preventsthem from using bus or rail.
“We’re the fifth largest mass tran-sit system in the country, and arealso one of the most accessible,” saidRoth. “We want wounded warriors toknow we’re here for them.”
To learn more about eligibility re-quirements and services available,Weaver will be located in the WarriorCafé Wednesday, call 202-962-1100, orvisit the WMATA website at:http://www.wmata.com/accessibility.
4 Thursday, August 9, 2012
Metro offers award-winning accessibility services, easy registration
Courtesy Photo
A Metro travel trainer shows a rider with a visual impairment howto feel for the bumps that mark the edge of the train platform.
1032
474
1032327
The Journal Thursday, August 9, 2012 5Thursday, August 9, 2012 5Thursday, August 9, 2012 5
1034724
Conveniently Located2 1/2 miles north of I-495 &Less than 3 miles to WRNMMC
The Women's Leadership Groupat Walter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center (WRNMMC) re-cently hosted a seminar on "sum-mer stress busters" to share tipsand foster dialogue about stressmanagement.
"It's an important topic for every-body, but especially in the summer,"said Chief Ship's Servicemen Char-lotte Gee, postal operations leadingchief petty officer and chair of theWomen's Leadership Group. Thegroup was formed earlier this year tofoster education, career develop-ment, networking and mentoring op-portunities for women at WRNMMC.
Guest speaker Kaprece James, alife skills education services facilita-tor with the Fleet and Family Sup-port Center (FFSC), defined stressnot as an environmental condition,but rather what we experience in themind and body as a reaction to exter-nal triggers. Signs of stress can in-clude high blood pressure, excessivesweating, insomnia, indigestion,headaches and muscle tension.
"Our historic role as caretakersmeans we bring a lot of positive qual-ities to the military, but it can be
both a help and a hindrance. Wehave to remember that if we're nottaking care of ourselves first, wecan't take care of others as effective-ly," James told the group, emphasiz-ing the importance of learning howto say "no" to avoid taking on toomany commitments.
"As women, a lot of us feel we needto play that nurturing role to feelcomplete," said Navy Counselor An-tonia Clinton. "But sometimes itmeans we take on too much." Clintonsaid as a mother, she appreciated theadvice James gave about simplifyingyour routine by not overbookingweekend activities and chores.
James suggested taking a local va-cation, such as visiting a museum inWashington, D.C. or taking a day tripto a historic site in Virginia. She saidthese kinds of fun family outings canprovide a much-needed escape.
In addition to offering practicaltips for summer scheduling, Jamessaid there are lots of little adjust-ments we can make in our day-to-day lives to help reduce stress.
"I know people look at me funnywhen I'm in my car, wondering: 'whatis she doing?' But singing and danc-ing to music helps me relax duringmy commute," said James. She saidwhat works is different for every-body, but it's important to identify
your own personal "stress busters,"whether it's meditation or just curl-ing up with a good book.
James said exercising regularly,maintaining healthy eating habits,and getting enough sleep are key formanaging stress, as well as sur-rounding yourself with a network ofsupportive friends.
Ultimately, James told the groupthat while we may encounter similarchallenges, we all deal with stressdifferently. The key is to figure outwhat methods of stress managementwork best for you, and stick to them.
To learn more about FFSC pro-grams and services, call 301-319-4087 or email [email protected].
Women's Leadership Group Shares Techniques for Stress Management
Photo by Helen Hocknell
Kaprece James, a life skills education services facilitator with theFleet and Family Support Center, says boxing is one of her favoriteways to reduce stress.
By Mass CommunicationSpecialist 2nd Class
John K. HamiltonNSAB Public Affairs
staff writer
The Naval SupportActivity Bethes-da (NSAB) Fleet and Family SupportCenter (FFSC) offers customer-fo-cused programs and services that en-rich lives, enhance opportunities, andstrengthen personal and family com-petencies to meet the unique chal-lenges of the military lifestyle.
"We provide extensive services inthe areas of deployment support,transition and employment assis-tance, exceptional family member, fi-nancial counseling, family memberemployment support, life skills edu-cation, family counseling and advo-cacy, new parent support, school liai-son, victim advocacy and sexual as-sault response," said Sallie Younger,director of NSAB's FFSC. "Our staffare highly trained and extremelymotivated to serve our community."
Younger said the military lifestylecan often bring unique challengesthat some individuals and militaryfamilies have difficulty dealing with.The FFSC is available to offer an ex-perienced helping hand during thesetimes of difficulty.
"Our military lifestyle often takesus away from the family and support
systems that help us through every-day life challenges," said Younger."We like to view the Fleet and Fami-ly Support Center as an extension ofan individual's family. We offer guid-ance, education, support and direc-tion, utilizing a "whole person con-cept" to help individuals and familiesachieve their goals."
The success of the programs reliesheavily on the input of the partici-
pants taking the classes.Lori Passmore, life skills educa-
tion services facilitator for NSAB'sFFSC, encourages participants toshare their criticisms about theclasses being held, in order to createa more versatile program.
"We try to bring a quality pro-gram. But the truth is some of thenegative feedback helps us do a bet-ter job. I don't mind feedback
whether it's negative or positive Iknow how to use that information toimprove services. I think we havebeen fortunate that our feedback hasbeen positive," said Passmore.
Fleet and Family services areavailable to every Department of De-fense beneficiary and their familiesfrom any branch of service.There arealso programs specific to woundedwarriors and their families.
"The overarching goal of theNSAB FFSC is to be the best Fleet &Family Support Center and to pro-vide high quality, top notch servicesthat meet the specific needs of ourcommunity," said Younger. "We areunique here at Bethesda as we havea large population of wounded war-riors. Their injuries and illnessesbring on unique challenges that canadd tremendous stress on individu-als and families.
"With the goal of creating mean-ingful programming, we have creat-ed specialized classes that work toaddress these challenges. The FFSCTransition and Employment teamestablished a full curriculum that fo-cuses on the warrior as a whole usingthe mind, body, spirit and family con-cept," said Younger.
For more information on classesand schedules contact the FFSC at301-319-4087 or email [email protected] and request a class schedule.
FFSC Provides Services Tailored to the Military Way of Life
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John K. Hamilton
Keith Leabitt, a computer forensics instructor for Mississippi StateUniversity, teaches a digital forensics class sponsored by the Fleetand Family Support Center in one of Naval Support ActivityBethesda's classrooms located in Building 11's B level Monday.
The Journal Thursday, August 9, 2012 7Thursday, August 9, 2012 7Thursday, August 9, 2012 7
By Sarah MarshallWRNMMC Journal
staff writer
Several Smart Suites atWalter Reed Bethesda will golive Monday,bringing innova-tive technology to the pa-tient's bedside and enhancingtheir overall experience.
The technology features"smart beds," offering two-way communication devices,audiovisual and wireless ca-pabilities as well as bedsideentertainment, all of whichcan be controlled via a wall-mounted, removable key-board that the patient has ac-cess to at all times, said NavyCapt. Wanda Richards,Smart Suite workgroupleader. Through alerts, theserooms will allow providers tomonitor patients' bed status,position and activity. Thetechnology will also be inte-grated with a clinical system,allowing nurses and physi-cians to view medical recordsand data.
Digital signage will be in-stalled outside the smartrooms. To better protect pri-vacy, the signs will identifypatients by a number, insteadof using their name outsidethe door, she continued. Thesignage will also help trackstaff and equipment in real-time, letting others outsidethe room know who is insidewith the patient.Additionally,the signs can display "do notdisturb" notes, as well as in-formation about the patient,including blood pressure, al-lergies, and whether theyhave a visual impairment, orfall risk.
Preparing patient roomsfor these capabilities has in-
volved a great deal of hardwork, Richards said. A groupof about 25 staff members atthe medical center - from clin-ical to logistics - have workedtogether to strategize and im-plement the necessary hard-ware to equip the smartrooms, she explained.
"This has been two years inthe making. Now, we're actu-ally going to see it happen,"she said. "I'm really excitedabout it."
Beginning with the inpa-tient pediatrics unit nextweek, about 17 rooms will beconverted into Smart Suites,
she continued. Over thecoming months, through anumber of phases, morerooms will be converted intoSmart Suites, with addition-al features/technologiesphased in.The project is ten-tatively scheduled for com-pletion in the spring of 2013,and will provide 165 smartrooms throughout the med-ical center.
Richards, also assistantdeputy commander for Nurs-ing Integration and Transi-tion, compared these innova-tive rooms to smart phones.As a person would add
"apps" to their smart phone,these rooms will continue tohave "apps" installed to en-hance the patient's experi-ence. The patient can accessthese features on a TV,mounted on the wall directlyin front of their bed.
During the first phase, pa-tients will have access to fea-tures available in English andSpanish,suchas "myHospital,"which provides informationabout the facility, its missionstatements,services,as well asinformation about the sur-rounding area. They will alsobe able to access entertain-
ment through "myGames."As the project continues,
another feature, "myEduca-tion," will provide the patientwith information about theircondition,upcoming surgeriesand procedures.They will alsobe able to track their personalgoals and any questions theymay have for their doctorthrough "myHealth Notes,"she said.
Smart Suite workinggroup member Chief Do-minic Blackwell, who worksin the Information Assurancedivision of Information Tech-nology, has made sure thesystem meets security re-quirements. He said he hasenjoyed being involved in theproject, which he believes ul-timately enhances the quali-ty of care and helps give pa-tients a greater sense of inde-pendence. "It's an awesomeexperience," he said.
Lt. Darrel Machir, assis-tant chief of the inpatientpharmacy, has been involvedwith the project since its in-ception, serving as a liaisonbetween the work group, thePharmacy,Lab and Radiology.He said he is looking forwardto seeing the direct impact itwill have on patients andtheir families.
"It's exciting to see the proj-ect go from start to comple-tion," he said. Richards addedthat the technology will offera distraction for patients,helping in their overall heal-ing process. She also believesthe new technology is theepitome of patient and fami-ly-centered care.
"They're taking charge oftheir own care," she said. "Thepatient is being an advocate oftheir own care."
Innovative Technology: Smart Suites Launch at WRNMMC
Photo by Sarah Marshall
Smart Suites at Walter Reed Bethesda will begin to go live next week. SmartSuite working group member Lt. Darrell Machir demonstrates the room's capa-bilities, featuring audiovisual technologies, bedside entertainment and two-waycommunication devices, which can all be controlled via a wall mounted, remov-able keyboard.
By Bernard S. LittleWRNMMC Journal
staff writer
A memorial plaza and gar-den,currently under construc-tion in front of the AmericaBuilding’s main entrance atWalter Reed Bethesda,will of-fer patients, visitors and staffanother place on base for heal-ing and reflection.
“The Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center(WRNMMC) Healing Plaza[will] encourage the healing ofindividuals who put their ownlives at risk for the reward of a
nation,”according to construc-tion officials and members ofthe Historical PreservationCommittee at WRNMMC,who provided design recom-mendations for the plaza.
“We provide a historicalperspective and a passion forthe roots of our new organiza-tion,” explained Army Col.John M. Gaal, WRNMMC’sdeputy commander for admin-istration and chair of the His-torical Preservation Commit-tee. He added the committee’srole “is to advise on the ele-ments of the garden that sup-port our organization and re-
flect our new identity as thefirst and only ‘National Mili-tary Medical Center.’”
Gaal said thecommitteehasa diverse membership,consist-ing of the hospital chief of staff,who represents the WRN-MMC command, and repre-sentatives from the Integra-tion and Transition office,Naval Support ActivityBethesda,Walter Reed Society,Navy Bureau of Medicine andSurgery (BUMED), and thosefrom the civilian staff (“longestserving member of the staff”)and retiree communities atWalterReedBethesda.“Weare
also supported by membersfrom Marketing and Facilities[departments],” he added.
In making recommenda-tions for the healing plaza,Gaal said the committee tookinto consideration “unifyingthe history of both the flag-ships of Army and Navy med-icine – the formerWalter ReedArmy Medical Center(WRAMC) and former Nation-al Naval Medical Center(NNMC),” that integrated toformWRNMMC last summer.
“For many years,U.S.Armyand Navy individuals under-took the healing process in
their own medical center,” de-sign officials said.
“Now both forces have beenbrought to one facility to healtogether.”
Part of unifying the historyofArmy and Navy medicine atWalter Reed Bethesda, Gaalexplained, includes placing the47-year-old Maj. Walter Reedbust that had been displayedon the WRAMC post since itwas created, in the center ofthe healing plaza. The bustwas created in 1965 by Amer-ican sculptor Felix de Weldon,
Healing Plaza to Celebrate Roots of Walter Reed Bethesda
See HEALING page 8
8 Thursday, August 9, 2012 The Journal8 Thursday, August 9, 2012
ter different phases ofhiring and preparing forthe store's opening. Ifyou create a profile andcheck back frequently,then you will see whenthe jobs are posted."
The new NEX will bemore than three timesthe size of the previous45,000 square foot loca-tion. The larger facilitywill offer expanded serv-ices, such as a food court,pharmacy, barbershop,beauty salon and aflower shop. Pimentelencourages anyone whois currently on the jobmarket to submit an ap-plication.
"If someone is inter-ested in a position, theyshould follow the proce-dures to apply, becausewe are ready to hire,"said Pimentel. "We likehiring the great people inthe military community,and I am very excited forwhat lies ahead."
HIRINGHIRINGContinued from 1
whose most famous work isprobably the Marine CorpsWar Memorial, also called theIwo Jima Memorial in Arling-ton,Va.
The Maj. Walter Reed bustwas removed from its originalpedestal at WRAMC andplaced in storage earlier thissummer, said Nino Fleri, re-gional facility director forNRMC who maintains a care-taker presence on the oldWRAMC post.
“He [the Maj. Walter Reedbust] is sitting in a warehousesafe and sound,” Fleri added.“As soon as we receive thegranite for the pedestal, we’llbring him to Bethesda. We’llprobably have him covered un-til a ribbon-cutting or unveil-ing.”
Gaal said the new pedestalfor the bust will have “a faceand height that is more har-monious and fitting”for its newsetting.
Anchoring the Walter ReedBethesda healing plaza is afouled anchor sculpture,placed“in a peaceful and respectfulsetting,” Gaal added.
The plaza will also include
plaques of the U.S. Navy andArmy seals, as well as engrav-ings of military medicinequotes, milestones, a timelineof WRAMC and NNMC, mili-tary medicine Medals of Honor,and three separate water fea-tures.
The planners went on tonote the healing garden is be-ing constructed to create an en-vironment of peace and tran-quility to help reduce negativeemotions.The garden will helppromote relaxation, improvemood and clinical outcomes,they added.
The plaza will also be able tobe used for tented events, or asa site for erecting a traditionalbase holiday tree.
In addition, construction of-ficials explained the healingplaza’s “sustainable design ap-proach” will permit rainwaterto be“temporarily”stored untilit can filter into the garden soil.“The permeable pavers usedthroughout the memorial willhelp reduce storm water run-off and allow rainwater to infil-trate into the ground and re-plenish groundwater.Selectiveplant material, particularlydrought-tolerant, will be intro-duced into the healing gardento create and enhance wildlifehabitat, to help reduce the useof water in the garden, and to
offer therapeutic benefits tousers and visitors,” accordingto designers.
“It has been a truly coordi-nated joint venture betweenthe Army and Navy makingthis happen,” Fleri said. “Hav-ing the anchor and bust in acommon area for all to visit,
hopefully creates a visual andconceptual area denoting thejoining of Army and Navymedicine.”
Gaal said there will be adedication ceremony for theplaza once it’s completed, pos-sibly later this summer or inthe fall.
HEALINGHEALINGContinued from 7
Photo by Sharon Renee Taylor
The bust of Maj. Walter Reed rested on its originalpedestal for nearly 50 years at the formerWalter ReedArmy Medical Center before it integrated with theformer National Naval Medical Center to formWalterReed National Military Medical Center last summer.
