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Naval District WashingtonPatient Services IITuesday, Jan. 26, 2010
Health Readiness Department
The Health Readiness Department oversees the Individual Medical Readiness (IMR) program designed to ensure service members assigned to National Naval Medical Center have completed annual medical readiness requirements during their birth month to maximize operational readiness. IMR consists of six essential components: dental readiness, immunization status, readiness laboratory studies, individual medical equipment, deployment-limiting conditions, and an annual Periodic Health Assessment (PHA). The goal of NNMC is to maintain a minimum of 85 percent medical readiness for deployment. In addition to IMR, Health Readiness also provides medical screenings for overseas suitability, reenlistment, physical examination and deployment health. Hearing Conservation Hearing Conservation services address auditory readiness, audiometric fitness-for-duty and prevention of job-related hearing loss. Audiometric screening services and diagnostic audiology are provided for employees exposed to hazardous noise levels. Additional services include employee education, hearing conservation program management and oversight, audiometric technician training and certification, and professional mentoring. This department also fits and issues hearing protective devices. Hematology / Oncology NNMC’s Hematology and Oncology Clinic, in conjunction with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), offers standard and research protocol treatment to active duty, retired and civilian patients. Staff from both the Navy and the NCI manage all hematologic and oncologic diagnoses. By working with the NCI, NNMC is able to offer more than the traditional options for treatment. All chemotherapy and other infusion needs, such as blood and platelet transfusions are managed in the treatment room. There is an onsite laboratory as well as pharmacy that fills most pharmacy needs as well as all chemotherapy and molecularly targeted agents. Navy Central HIV Program The Navy Central HIV Program (NCHP) oversees the administration and development of policies concerning HIV screening for the Navy as directed by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) for the Bureau of Personnel (BUPERS). NCHP also supports the Navy and Marine Corps in matters related to:
Immunization Clinic provides customer-focused, walk-in complete immunization service to pediatric and adult beneficiaries in the National Capital Area. The clinic is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Industrial Hygiene The Industrial Hygiene Program evaluates biological, chemical and physical hazards in the work place, provides consultation on matters of work place health, and recommends control measures to reduce or mitigate occupational exposures. Industrial Hygiene ensures that staff providing care to patients work in a healthy environment. Infection Prevention & Control Services Infection Prevention & Control Service provides direction and oversight for the prevention and control of health care-associated infections among patients, visitors and staff. Inpatient Medicine Inpatient Medicine provides around-the-clock, high quality nursing care to Internal Medicine patients with complex medical problems. Advanced technologies are used to aid in healing wounds. The medical team also uses pro-active pain management plans to ensure patient comfort. Patients and families are assisted with discharge planning for post-hospitalization care ranging from home health care service or equipment to assist rehabilitation services. International Travel Clinic International Travel Clinic is available on a self-referral basis for patients who will be traveling overseas. This clinic sees travelers in family groups and reviews their itinerary to make recommendations for immunizations, malaria, diarrhea and other disease prevention. It’s advisable to make appointments at least four weeks prior to travel since some immunizations and anti-malarials require weeks for administration. Patients are required to bring outpatient medical records and immunization records to all appointments. Internal Medicine Clinic The National Naval Medical Center’s Internal Medicine health care providers are skilled professionals who diagnose and treat adult patients with a wide variety of health conditions from simple to highly complex. Internal Medicine is comprised of two clinics:
National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) and Walter Reed Army Medical Center Laboratories work together to provide full Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology services for the beneficiaries in National Capital Area. As a world class academic medical center, our laboratory facilities are accredited by the College of American Pathologists, American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and inspected by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). NNMC Laboratory works in close partnership with the clinical staff to provide meaningful, and accurate professional pathology services for our patients. Our services include Surgical Pathology, Cytopathology, Autopsy Pathology, Transfusion Medicine, Hematology, Microbiology, Serology and Chemistry. Special services include Flow Cytometry, Molecular Diagnostic Studies and Immunodiagnostics. Laser Vision Center A new era in corrective eye surgeries – photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), IntraLASIK, and Intraocular Collamer Lens (ICL) surgical procedures – are helping vision-impaired patients see clearly without the hassles of glasses or contact lenses. For PRK, a doctor sculpts the surface of the cornea with an Ultraviolet (cold) laser to change the surface curvature of the cornea, resulting in a correction of the refractive error. For IntraLASIK, a fematosecond laser creates a surgical flap on the front of the cornea. Then, the underlying surface of the cornea is sculpted with an Ultraviolet (cold) laser in order to change the surface curvature of the cornea, resulting in a correction of the refractive error. For ICL, an implantable lens with the patient’s refractive error is placed in between the crystaline lens and the iris, resulting in a correction of the refractive error. Priority is given to service members who work in extreme physical environments that preclude the safe use of eye glasses or contact lenses. An evaluation for eligibility may be requested by all Active Duty personnel. Eligibility will be determined by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. An eligible member’s unit commander must endorse the request and determine the level of priority. Once a command-endorsed request is received, the NNMC Laser Vision Center staff will review requests for final determination of clinical appropriateness and priority. Medical & Reproductive Genetics NNMC is one of the first military medical facilities to offer genetic counseling services to families with a known history of genetic disorders or newly suspected genetic conditions, including pre-conception counseling, prenatal counseling and diagnostic testing. During a genetic counseling appointment, genetics professionals obtain a detailed family history which takes into account race, ethnic background, and specific environmental/occupational exposures, and a pedigree is constructed. Information is provided to help the patient and family to understand the medical facts and recurrence risk of the disorder, the options for prenatal diagnosis and the associated procedure risks, and the options if the patient is found to have an affected pregnancy. If appropriate, diagnostic procedures such as ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling, and amniocentesis are offered. The goal of preconceptional counseling is to reduce the risk of adverse health effects for the woman, fetus, or neonate by optimizing the woman’s health and knowledge before conception. Evaluation during a preconceptional counseling appointment may include any or all-of-the-above, but also focuses on chronic medical conditions that may affect or be affected by pregnancy. Mother & Infant Care Center and Couplet Care (MICC)
NNMC’s MICC delivers more than 2,000 babies each year and is one of the largest birthing centers in the Defense Department medical system. The MICC embodies the most modern concepts in childbirth philosophy, technology and design. “Family-Centered Care” is integrated with advanced medical technology to ensure a safe, comfortable and individualized birth experience. Labor, delivery and recovery all take place in specially designed birthing rooms with warm, home-like environments, featuring private bathrooms, birthing beds, televisions, pullout sofas and telephones. Operating rooms with the latest medical equipment are conveniently located for Cesarean deliveries. After delivery, your family will stay in a special Couplet Care room, where a specially trained nurse cares for mother and baby.
NNMC’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides the highest level of care for newborns at risk from the National Capital Area, as well as those transported from local hospitals and overseas locations. Some of the conditions that may cause a newborn to be referred to the NICU are premature birth, low birth weight, infection, respiratory problems or birth defects. Staffed by physicians in neonatal medicine, including three board-certified neonatal specialists who apply the most advanced medical technologies available, the NICU offers around-the-clock intensive care for over 400 high-risk critically ill newborns each year. Nephrology The Nephrology Service is a specialty clinic that provides for the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with renal (kidney) diseases. The clinic provides comprehensive renal replacement therapy including chronic intermittent hemodialysis, acute hemodialysis, critical care dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy, and comprehensive peritoneal dialysis services. Additionally, the nephrology clinic treats all aspects of kidney transplant care including medical management of rejection, evaluation of renal failure in the transplant patient, evaluation of potential renal transplant donor and recipients, and provides medical consultation on renal transplant patients admitted for non-transplant-related medical problems. Specialty procedures include basic kidney sonograms, kidney biopsies for native kidney diseases and renal allograft rejection, placement of temporary acute dialysis catheters, various infusion devices related specifically to nephrology. Other specialty services are provided, including a full range of infusion services including IV iron infusions, IV chemotherapy infusions for glomerulonephrtitides, erythropoietin replacement infusion clinic, contrast nephropathy infusion services, dialysis catheter related TPA infusion protocols, water deprivation testing, water loading tests, tests of urinary acidification and dilution, AUC testing for transplant immunosuppression metabolism, specialized hypertensive testing, and other specialized tests related to renal function. Finally, the Nephrology Service provides full in-patient renal consultative services to general medical services, OB/GYN services, critical care services, surgical subspecialties, and vascular and interventional subspecialty consults. Neurology Physicians with expertise in clinical neurology use advanced procedures and techniques to diagnose and treat adults with disorders of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord peripheral nerves, and muscles). Neurologists diagnose and treat a broad range of disorders, including but not limited to: epilepsy, headache, multiple sclerosis, stroke, sleep disorders, and tumors. Evaluation, treatment, and follow-up often involve a close collaboration with other health care specialists. Neurosurgery
The dedicated neurosurgeons at NNMC bring extensive expertise to the evaluation and treatment of nervous system disorders requiring surgery. They provide the full spectrum of neurosurgical care including the treatment of brain tumors, pituitary tumors, spine disease, and vascular disorders including aneurysms and malformations. The treatment of movement disorders and intractable epilepsy is also provided in concert with the Neurology department. In addition to conventional surgery they offer state-of-the-art neuro-endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and stroke with specific emphasis on carotid artery disease. Correction of intracranial stenosis and emergent revascularization procedures are also offered. Additionally, they are nationally recognized experts in the treatment of head injury and in neurocritical care. For complex conditions a multidisciplinary team approach is used. Additional team members come from a variety of disciplines including oncology, radiation oncology, neuroradiology, speech pathology, neuropsychology, oral maxillo-facial surgery, otolarygology and physical therapy.
Nutrition Management provides meals for inpatients, clinical nutrition care to inpatients and outpatients, and health education. Nutrition Management also offers individual nutrition counseling, therapeutic diets and classes for diabetes, and cholesterol and weight management. Counseling is available to those eligible for military medical care. Obstetrics & Gynecology NNMC is the Tri-Service Referral Hospital for obstetrics, high-risk pregnancies, and deliveries for the National Capital Region and national and international commands. Specialists in obstetrics and gynecology diagnose and treat both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) conditions. Prenatal (before birth) care is highly personalized to the individual patient’s needs and includes a comprehensive childbirth and parenting education program. NNMC’s obstetrics professionals use the newest technology and equipment, such as 4-dimensional ultrasound and video teleconferencing. Gynecologic surgeons have expertise in both traditional gynecologic surgery and minimally invasive procedures such as laparoscopy, endometrial ablation and hysteroscopic tubal occlusion. Other services provided by the Obstetrics & Gynecology clinic include:
The Occupational Health Clinic offers medical care to civilian staff for work related illness or injury and ensures health in the work environment by providing the following services:
The Occupational Safety Program provides oversight safety and occupational health inspections for all NNMC workplace areas, thereby ensuring a safe workplace for employees, patients, and visitors. Safety programs include the following:
Occupational Therapy (OT) professionals provide outpatient and inpatient services to individuals experiencing decreased functional performance in orthopedic, neurological, psychosocial and physical abilities. Populations served by Occupational Therapy span the entire lifecycle of all beneficiaries with emphasis on active duty members casualties of traumatic brain injury, amputations, and PTSD. Occupational Therapy’s goals focus on increasing one’s level of independence with self-care, work and leisure skills through purposeful and or meaningful activity. Customized treatment plans can include therapeutic exercise, education on injury prevention and ergonomics, provision and/or fabrication of adaptive equipment and recommendations for home safety. Additionally, OT assesses the need for assistive technological devices/equipment, assists with procurement and provides training in the use of the devices. Recreation Therapy is also provided to both in and outpatients by certified Recreation Therapists. Services include community reintegration activities and adaptive sports programs. Oncology NNMC partners with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to offer state- of-the-art clinical research trials for cancer treatment. As a patient, you will have access to research protocol and standard treatment options. By working with the NCI, NNMC is able to offer more than the traditional options for treatment. Chemotherapy and oncology certified nursing staff meet the national standards in oncology and show commitment to patient care. Education of patients and their caregivers in all topics related to treatment and quality of life is a major nursing priority. Operating Room NNMC’s Main Operating Room (MOR) has eighteen surgical suites and one cystoscopy suite. One suite is utilized exclusively for pain management. Our specialized RN and technician staff provide safe, comprehensive preoperative, intraoperative, and post operative care for both inpatients and outpatients for the following surgical specialties:
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