SAN DIEGO—The American Hospital Association (AHA) has presented two federal hospital leaders with awards recognizing their outstanding service in the health care field. These awards recognize federal health care leaders who have distinguished themselves through singularly significant achievements and leadership or innovative achievements that have contributed substantially to the mission of the federal health system. 

“(These) honorees exemplify dedication to excellence and service to their country and, on behalf of the American Hospital Association, I thank them for the incredible work they do each day,” said Rich Umbdenstock, AHA president and CEO. “Their commitment, under difficult circumstances, to improving care for their fellow service members inspires us all.” 

The recipient of the 2012 Federal Health Care Executive Award for Excellence is Capt. Maureen Padden, M.D., U.S. Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla.  

Capt. Padden is a recognized leader in family medicine with a wealth of experience as a family physician, a teacher and an executive. She has used her extensive experience to dramatically transform the way primary care is delivered in U.S. Navy Medicine and the Military Healthcare System (MHS).

As one of the principal authors of the Navy Medicine’s Medical Homeport Instruction, Capt. Padden helped to change and clearly define how primary care should be delivered across the Navy enterprise. The model, adapted to the unique challenges of the military medicine environment, is based on the principles of patient-centered care.

The National Center for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has recognized more than 45 of the Navy’s Medical Homeport practices as Level 3 Medical Homes, and the Navy is on track for virtually all of its primary care practices to be NCQA recognized by the end of 2013.

In addition, Capt. Padden, through innovation and meticulous program management, defined and standardized the business rules and standard operating procedures for primary care across Navy Medicine, including family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. Due to these efforts, overall patient satisfaction has risen by more than eight percent since 2009, with some Medical Homes maintaining a 93 percent patient satisfaction rating.

In addition to her work with Homeport Navy enlisted and families, Capt. Padden worked with Marine Corps and Navy Fleet Forces to conceptualize how health care should be delivered to active duty operational forces in their specific environments, modifying the Medical Homeport model.

A highly sought-after national speaker, she has held high-level offices with both the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians and is considered an expert on the patient-centered medical home.

The recipient of the 2012 Federal Health Care Executive Special Achievement Award is Commander Matthew Case, MSC, USN, United States Naval Hospital, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

Commander Case has made significant and lasting contributions in both combat and hospital-based assignments by being the principal driving force behind improved operational health services support for 16,000 U.S. and Coalition Forces in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

As the Commanding Officer of Bravo Surgical Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), Afghanistan, Commander Case led 155 Navy and Marine Corps personnel who delivered world-class, lifesaving, emergent surgical care to 739 combat causalities at four forward operating bases, including the medical evacuation of 314 critically wounded casualties with an astounding 97 percent survival rate.

In addition, Commander Case oversaw the care of more than 4,200 non-critically injured patients at four Role I medical and dental treatment centers resulting in 98 percent of patients returning to duty. His pre-deployment planning and subsequent daily operational oversight resulted in the successful employment of three Forward Resuscitative Surgical Systems and four Shock Trauma Platoons located at five geographically separate, remote forward operating bases and five additional medical detachments.

During a time of significant force reduction in Afghanistan, Commander Case was instrumental in planning, organizing and executing the realignment of medical assets, including the closure of three Role II facilities and the establishment of Role II surgical capabilities at new forward operating bases. In 16 days, he executed the deployment of 73 medical personnel with $3.3 million of hospital equipment and supplies in order to maintain uninterrupted combat surgical support that ensured marines and sailors had robust health service support during all critical phases of their operations.

Commander Case’s dedication and forceful leadership had a lasting impact on the delivery of medical care to U.S. operational forces in Afghanistan. In addition, immediately upon returning from deployment in October, he resumed leadership of Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune’s Administration Directorate, providing exceptional support to 2,200 military, civilian and contractor personnel serving more than 180,000 health care beneficiaries in Eastern North Carolina.

About the AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities.  The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks and other providers of care and 43,000 individual members.  Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends.  For more information, visit www.aha.org.