Photo By Brian Davis | Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan, surgeon general of the Navy (far left) and U.S. Naval...... read more read more
OKINAWA, Japan -- Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan, Navy surgeon general, awarded U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa (USNHO) the 2012 Blue H – Navy Surgeon General’s Health Promotion and Wellness Gold Star Award, July 19.
While in Okinawa conducting a site visit of Navy Medicine facilities and personnel, Nathan personally presented the Blue H award pennant with gold streamer to the USNHO Health Promotions staff during a brief ceremony in the hospital’s command suite.
The Blue H award is managed by the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) to encourage and reward the promotion of health in Navy and Marine Corps organizations. All Navy commands are eligible to compete in one of three categories: Fleet, Medical, and Semper Fit Centers.
“Competing in the Surgeon General's Blue H Program was very hard work bringing so many pieces together. The program covers several areas from ensuring proper clinical practices for patient and staff to establishing an abundance of health promotional awareness throughout the command,” said Robert Rowe, USNHO health promotion specialist.
Although the hospital’s health promotion team worked hard to earn the Blue H pennant, the award is also a reflection of the community health efforts across all branches of service in Okinawa, according to Lt. Cmdr. Marion Gregg, USNHO director of Public Health.
“The beneficiaries’ active participation in health promotion activities was key to our command being awarded the Gold Star. Without the strong buy-in from our beneficiaries on Okinawa, we would not have been able to be recognized with this award,” said Gregg.
According to a message released by the Navy surgeon general, health topics covered in the Blue H program include alcohol abuse prevention, injury prevention, nutrition, physical activity, psychological health, sexual health, tobacco cessation and weight management. The medical treatment facility category recognizes excellence in clinical primary prevention services, community health promotion and medical staff health.
The hospital’s health promotion team sees the Blue H award program as an acknowledgement of Navy Medicine’s growing focus on healthy behaviors and disease prevention through beneficiary education.
“Health promotion plays a vital role in informing beneficiaries of good healthy lifestyle choices and modifications to improve the quality and the quantity of their lives. This award is a validation of all the hard work of all the personnel here at USNHO taking exceptional care of our patients, but also a focus on improving the quality of lives, the prevention of disease, and good healthy lifestyle choices,” said Gregg.
The USNHO Health Promotion department conducts an ongoing outreach program that involves working with other services and commands across Okinawa. Outreach efforts primarily focus on publicizing the services available to beneficiaries to teach them about healthy lifestyle choices, preventive health services, and programs such as tobacco cessation that help improve the quality and quantity of their lives.
The Blue H award is earned at three levels: Bronze Anchor, Silver Eagle, and Gold Star. Every command that applies receives a Bronze Anchor. To earn the Silver Eagle, a command must score at least 50 points in every judged category, and the Gold Star level requires commands to achieve a minimum of 80 percent of total available points. Winning commands were announced via message released by the Navy surgeon general.
“Everyone’s hard work paid off. To be awarded our first-ever Gold Star award was an awesome feeling for the command, and to have it personally awarded by the surgeon general himself was beyond belief,” said Rowe.
Having achieved the highest level possible for the award, the Health Promotions team is quick to note that the pennant isn’t symbolic of crossing a finish line. The work of educating and improving the health of the population is ongoing, and the award confirms that command’s program is moving in the right direction.
“We look forward to continuing to work with people and organizations, meeting new friends and supporters, and helping people stationed here on Okinawa have a rewarding and safe time on Okinawa while making good healthy lifestyle decisions that will benefit their health for the rest of their lives,” said Gregg.
U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa is the Navy’s largest overseas military treatment facility, serving a beneficiary population of 55,000 active duty personnel, family members, civilian employees, contract personnel, and retirees. The facility also provides referral services for over 189,000 beneficiaries throughout the Western Pacific.
For more news and information about U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, visit www.navy.mil/sites/nhoki or the hospital’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usnho.
| Date Taken: | 07.19.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.12.2013 22:07 |
| Story ID: | 111855 |
| Location: | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 327 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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