Photo By Chief Petty Officer Stephane Belcher | 161202-N-PG340-058 PORTSMOUTH, Va. (Dec. 2, 2016) Rear Adm. Ken Iverson (center...... read more read more
Rear Adm. Ken Iverson turned over leadership of Navy Medicine East (NME) to Rear Adm. Anne M. Swap during a change of command ceremony Dec. 2. Iverson also retired after 30 years as a Navy physician and health care leader.
Hundreds of staff, family, friends and distinguished guests attended the time-honored Navy tradition, presided over by Vice Adm. Forrest Faison, Navy surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED).
Faison praised Iverson for his remarkable leadership and selfless commitment to Navy Medicine.
“I am honored to call you shipmate, and friend,” said Faison. “Everywhere you’ve gone, you’ve made a difference.”
Faison presented Iverson with the Legion of Merit award for his outstanding service as commander, Navy Medicine East, since December 2015.
“Our focus across Navy Medicine East has been on being the “preferred choice.” This has two meanings, being the preferred choice for patients to desire to receive care at one of our facilities and the preferred choice for staff to desire to work,” said Iverson. “And in just the past year, I’ve had the honor and privilege of seeing first-hand how the dedicated and passionate staff across the Navy Medicine East enterprise makes that vision a reality through the care they provide each and every day to our Navy and Marine Corps family.”
NME’s area of responsibility includes more than 26,000 doctors, nurses, hospital corpsmen and support staff at approximately 100 hospitals, branch clinics and medical facilities who provide the full spectrum of health care to more than 1 million patients, executing a $1.3 billion dollar budget. In fiscal year 2016, the staff supported 6 million primary care and specialty care clinic visits; admitted more than 29,000 patients to its hospitals; filled 7.1 million prescriptions; and delivered 6,200 babies. On top of that, its public health experts from Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center provide worldwide force health protection services to naval and joint forces, and NME also oversees the Tidewater Enhanced Multi-Service Market (eMSM) which integrates Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley and McDonald Army Health Center to maximize clinical capabilities.
Iverson’s contributions during his time as NME commander enhanced the safety and quality of care throughout the region, and illustrated his commitment to being the “preferred choice.”
One hundred percent of NME’s health care facilities are accredited by The Joint Commission and 100 percent its 54 Medical Home Port primary care teams responsible for the care of 500,000 enrolled patients throughout the eastern hemisphere are recognized by the National Quality Assurance for Patient-Centered Medical Homes. Through optimization of the direct care system throughout the year, NME reduced purchased care costs of over $40 million dollars annually. NME also launched ten cutting edge telehealth initiatives focused on pain management, consultation management for the naval fleet, and increased access to mental health services resulting in over 1,800 patient encounters. These initiatives prevented 39 unnecessary medical evacuations of deployed personal and overseas units, and saved over $700,000 in recaptured health care expenses.
Iverson also sponsored a leadership symposium that brought together NME’s leadership from across the eastern hemisphere with nationally recognized speakers focused on patient satisfaction and high reliability. This not only enhanced the safety and quality of care throughout the region, but illustrated NME’s commitment to being the “preferred choice” for patients to receive care and staff to work.
During his 30-year career, Iverson served on numerous staffs and commands worldwide. His leadership roles were vast. As commanding officer, Expeditionary Medical Facility Kuwait (EMF-K) he led three detachments in support of the draw down in Iraq and in preparation for the final transition of EMF-K to the U.S. Army. As Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton’s commanding officer, he led a staff of over 2,300 who were dedicated to the support of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. He served as BUMED’s deputy chief, Education and Training, responsible for developing strategy and policy resulting in an educated and trained medical department. Also at BUMED, he was deputy chief, Medical Operations, responsible for clinical operations, health care administration, and the Medical Home Port program—the Navy’s approach to primary care.
“Being part of Navy Medicine for the last 30 years has been such a profound privilege and honor. I will cherish the memories I have of working with so many dedicated professionals whose skill, sacrifice and compassion is unparalleled,” said Iverson. “Thank you to all the shipmates, friends and family who are here today to make this day so special. Without your support and encouragement this day would not be possible—I am in your debt.”
Swap, NME's newest commander, and director, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy, previously served as director, Medical Resources, Plans and Policy. Other leadership roles included serving as commanding officer, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan and BUMED's liaison officer to the Defense Health Agency. A native of Fort Ord, California, she was commissioned in 1990.
Swap expressed her enthusiasm in joining the NME team and acknowledged the remarkably high standards set by Iverson.
"It is an honor and privilege to serve as your commander,” said Swap. “I look forward to the challenges, and the opportunities they bring, and will do my very best to represent each and every one of you.”
NME is one of two regional commands that manage Navy Medicine's global health care network. It oversees the effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of medical, dental and other health care services to approximately one million patients across almost 100 facilities—including the Tidewater Enhanced Multi-Service Market which brings together U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley and McDonald Army Health Center. Plus, its public health extends globally. For more information visit: www.med.navy.mil/sites/nme and www.twitter.com/NavMedEast.
| Date Taken: | 12.02.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.02.2016 15:42 |
| Story ID: | 216278 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 912 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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