Naval Medical Center San Diego has been judged shipshape by a national program that aims to improve the quality of surgical care — one of 46 military facilities taking part in a Pentagon collaborative.
The American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvements Program recently recognized the Balboa Park hospital for “meritorious outcomes in several categories” in 2018, the Navy reported Tuesday.
“The achievement is awarded annually to participating hospitals, both military and civilian, who perform within the top 10 percent with meritorious outcomes,” the Navy said. Over 700 hospitals took part in the program.
NMCSD is one of 56 hospitals to be recognized in the adult program for achieving meritorious outcomes in both categories: “all cases” and “high risk.”
Each facility requires a team to put the program into effect — comprising a “surgeon champion, assistant surgeon champion and surgical nurse reviewer.” In San Diego, they were, respectively, Cmdr. Kyle Gadbois, Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Morrissey and Mollie Mullen.
“This recognition is validation of the dedication and quality care provided to our patients by all members of our surgical team,” said Mullen, NMCSD’s advisor for clinical quality to the directorate for surgical services. “I am so proud to be a part of NMCSD and to see this wonderful achievement.”
Recognized hospitals achieve a meritorious composite score through a weighted formula, combining eight outcomes in these categories: mortality, cardiac, pneumonia, unplanned intubation, ventilator longer than 48 hours, renal failure, surgical site infections and urinary tract infections.
“NMCSD is one of the original DOD pilot sites to test NSQIP,” Mullen said. “I am fortunate to have piloted the program for NMCSD in 2004. It is incredibly exciting to see the growth of the program throughout the past 15 years, both locally and throughout military medicine.”
Capt. Juliann Althoff, NMCSD’s chief medical officer, said NMCSD has been a recognized leader in such efforts across Navy Medicine and the Military Health System.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for the hospital,” Althoff said. “The recognition reflects the high quality of care provided to our beneficiaries.”
The ACS was founded in 1913 as a scientific and educational organization used to reduce surgical morbidity and mortality, raise the standard of surgical practice, and improve the care of the surgical patient.
NMCSD’s mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high quality healthcare services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training, and research. NMCSD employs more than 6,000 active duty military personnel, civilians, and contractors in Southern California to provide patients with world-class care anytime, anywhere.