Womack commander says hospital staff is working on problems
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- The commander of Womack Army Medical Center calls a Pentagon review of medical services eye-opening, but also challenging, because it gives the hospital staff an idea of where to improve their services.
"Since May 27, our staff has focused aggressively on improving quality, improving safety, and improving patient satisfaction", said Womack Commander Col. Ronald Stephens.
Wednesday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel released the results of a four-month review of all military hospitals and clinics. The review showed that there were some shortcomings in healthcare across the system including 71 incidents of leaving a foreign object in a patient after surgery, 57 unexpected deaths, and 40 cases of wrong surgery.
Specific numbers number for Womack showed that between 2011 and 2013 there were three incidents of an object left in a surgery patient, one incident of operating on the wrong patient, and one unexpected death.
Stephens assumed command of Womack Medical Center in May after the previous commander was relieved of duties for what the Army calls failure of leadership.
Stephens took over and started making changes at Womack almost immediately. Besides improving health care, his staff is also working to make Womack better. Previously, nearly half the patients surveyed were not happy with the way they were treated. Stephens said new policies and training will make Womack more "user friendly."
"I talk with staff every day about making eye contact with visitors, and to be ready, willing, and able to assist someone with everything from directions to pediatrics, to helping patients get to their cars after a treatment," said Stephens.
Stephens said hospital staff will undergo two days of training to improve customer service.
He also said a more recent survey showed that Womack had improved its health care and customer service, but Stephens said, "There is always room for improvement."
