Elmendorf hospital named best … again

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class David Carbajal
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  There are very few things better than being named the best. One of which is being named the best twice in back-to-back years. 

For the second consecutive year, the Elmendorf hospital was named the best hospital in the Air Force after receiving the Air Force Surgeon General Award Feb. 3. 

This award just validated what hospital leadership already knew, according to the 3rd Medical Group deputy commander, Col. Billy Cecil. 

"We have some of the most talented medics in the Air Force at this hospital," said Colonel Cecil. 

He explained that since winning this award last year, the hospital staff has worked to maintain the highest level of patient care. Their motto has been "We continue to find opportunities to say 'yes!'" 

As a Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs joint venture hospital, the facility serves members of all branches of the military services and their families, VA patients and military retirees. In 2008, the hospital served more than 220,000 customers. 

During that period, the medical group has also achieved many goals to better serve their customers. 

The hospital received an excellent rating on the Health Servicesafety Inspection with the highest score of any of the Air Force hospitals inspected in the past five years. 

The medical group established a Traumatic Brain Injury clinic manned by nine personnel assisting more than 1,300 servicemembers. The Arctic Medics also performed more than 3,500 surgeries during 2008. 

Earlier in the year, the medical group stood up two new squadrons to better support their operations: 3rd Inpatient Squadron and 3rd Surgical Operations Squadron. 

In addition to these accomplishments, the staff has many upcoming improvements for 2009. 

Plans continue for expansions for Air National Guard member care, a Warrior Transition Unit, a newthe VA clinicunit and Fisher House. 

"Our active duty, dependents, and VA population continues to grow. Our challenge is to grow with it," said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Warnberg, hospital superintendent. "To fight for the resources, personnel, equipment, space, and dollars so we can continue to meet the needs of the population. At the same time, we must maintain and prepare a ready medical force to deploy around the world."