NHC Corpus Christi sets plan for operations under DHA

As Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi prepares to transition under the management and administration of the Defense Health Agency, clinic leadership continues to set the standard in improving business planning to optimize health care in the Military Health System (MHS).

Leaders from NHC Corpus Christi, its San Antonio Detachment and Branch Health Clinics in Kingsville and Fort Worth gathered this week for a strategic planning session in support of the Quadruple Aim Performance Process (QPP) initiative.

QPP integrates capabilities in strategic planning, performance planning, financial operations, performance improvement and decision making to achieve breakthrough performance in pursuit of improved readiness, better health, better care and lower cost.

The Quadruple Aim represents the ultimate goal for military health care, and is aligned with the MHS strategic goals to include: Readiness: Ensuring that the total military force is medically ready to deploy and that the medical force is ready to deliver health care anytime, anywhere in support of the full range of military operations, including humanitarian missions.

As part of Congress’ requirements in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, the DHA will assume administration and management of NHC Corpus Christi and its branch health clinics on Oct. 1. This transition will increase efficiency by eliminating duplication, and enhancing standardization and consistency across the military services.

NHC Corpus Christi’s staff of more than 450 active duty, civilians, and contractors across four locations stands ready to make this a seamless transition for patients. Where and how patients access care will not change, and they will continue to have full access to care and convenience care options.

Over time, these reforms will drive better integration and standardization of care across all MTFs, which means patients should have a consistent, high-quality health care experience, no matter where they are.

“This transition to the DHA is one of the most significant changes Navy Medicine has seen in decades, but we are working diligently to ensure it is seamless and virtually unnoticeable to our patients,” said NHCCC Commanding Officer Capt. Eric Evans. “Providing our service members, retirees and family members with the best possible patient care experience is, and always will be, our number one priority at Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi.”

While DHA will be responsible for health care delivery and business operations, Navy Medicine will retain principal responsibility for operational readiness of the medical force.

To complement Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi’s transition, Navy Medicine is establishing a co-located Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command. Navy Medicine, through the NMRTC, retains command and control of the uniformed medical force, and maintains responsibility and authority for operational readiness. This includes the medical readiness of Sailors and Marines, as well as the clinical readiness of the medical force.

The Corpus Christi NMRTC will improve the ability of Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi to meet the needs of operational commanders. Survivability of Navy and Marine Corps personnel in the future warfighting environment requires a medical force that’s ready to immediately deploy and save lives.