ALCOAST 298/23 - AUG 2023 2022 HEALTH CARE AWARD RESULTS

R 171140Z AUG 23 MID600053262075U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 298/23
SSIC 6010
SUBJ: 2022 HEALTH CARE AWARD RESULTS
A. Recognition Programs, COMDTINST 1650.26A
1. In accordance with REF (A), a selection board convened in
May 2023 to review nominations for the Coast Guard (CG) 2022
Michael J. Cristy Health Care Facility (HCFOY), Health Services
Technician (HSOY), and Independent Duty Health Services
Technician (IDHSOY) of the year awards.
2. HCFOY - The winner of the 2022 HCFOY (Large) is CG BASE
PORTSMOUTH and (Small) AIRSTA ATLANTIC CITY:
    a. (Large) BASE PORTSMOUTH Clinic executed over 23,000 patient
encounters in 2022, which includes Primary Care, Pharmacy Services,
Dental Services, Military Readiness Exams, OMSEP, Laboratory
Services, travel screenings, medical boards and referral management.
While maintaining the mission of quality care, a team of HS
personnel responded to an accident involving a cyclist and motor
vehicle on base. The duty HS led triage, evaluation, and emergent
care of the cyclist and the motor vehicle operator, while also
activating local EMS response. The cyclist sustained significant
head trauma causing a cerebral hemorrhage and partial paralysis, and
initial prognosis for this patient was poor. However, due to
critical and timely interventions provided on scene and the careful
transfer of the member to local EMS, the long-term prognosis for the
patient looks good and will soon return to full duty. The clinic
provided critical HS support to fulfill mission needs on the
Southwest Border and for the Operation Vigilant Sentry (OVS) mission
in D7. In the true spirit of giving back to the community, clinic
members volunteered 382 hours at various local venues to help
residents in and around Portsmouth, VA. Clinic staff were recognized
by the Portsmouth Mayor's Military Affairs Committee for enabling
under-served elderly, mobility-challenged, and developmentally
disabled citizens to remain active in their community.
    b. (Small) AIRSTA ATLANTIC CITY Clinic has supported one of the
most critical missions in the Coast Guard, Rotary Wing Air Intercept
(RWAI) airspace protection of the National Capital Region (NCR),
Washington D.C. Between AIRSTA Atlantic City and the NCR. The
COVID-19 pandemic provided a significant challenge to the clinic
over the past year. Between the substantial geographic distance
between the two facilities and the constant deployment cycles, the
unit was very susceptible to the viral contagion. To contain the
spread of the virus, the clinic designed and implemented its own
unique COVID-19 tracking system. In 2022 alone, the clinic oversaw
269 isolations, 223 quarantines, and monitored 117 cases of the
virus. Most importantly, the clinic's actions resulted in a 0%
decrease in RWAI capability with regards to medical and mission
readiness. The clinic's stellar actions during this past year were
instrumental in preserving the integrity of the Coast Guard's most
important mission. In addition to the RWAI mission, AIRSTA Atlantic
City conducts search and rescue, providing 24/7 dual helicopter
coverage for the entire Mid-Atlantic coast of the United States.
The clinic also directly supported 26 MEDEVAC cases, providing
life-saving medical advice and direction to the duty search and
rescue crews, which resulted in 26 lives saved.
    c. CG TRAINING CENTER CAPE MAY was also a finalist for this
award and can take pride in their significant accomplishments during
2022.
3. HSOY - The winner of the 2022 HSOY Award is HS1 APRIL FIESTE,
BASE Miami Beach:
    a. HS1 FIESTE'S performance and significant contributions to
BASE Miami Beach clinic, and the Coast Guard were unparalleled as
demonstrated in her many accomplishments over the past year. HS1
Fieste filled the role left vacant by the Clinic Administrator due
to retirement. During this period, HS1 covered administrative roles
where she required little to no oversight. Subsequently, HS1's
ability to deliver exceptional leadership led to the successful
completion of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health
Care (AAAHC) survey for the clinic. A remarkable accomplishment for
an HS1 filling in for a position held by a Master Chief. In
addition to her primary duties, HS1 also researched and conducted
a site visit to a local joint commission accredited recovery center,
The Haven, for substance abuse and mental health disorders. Adding
this resource in the BASE Miami Beach area increased members' access
to a much-needed service during a time when the clinic had no
Regional Behavioral Health Provider. As a senior leader, she
continued to dedicate her time to junior HS's and was instrumental
in 4 HS's advancing to the next paygrade.
    b. The following HSs were also finalists and nominated
by their commands for this award and can take pride in their
significant accomplishments during 2022:
HS2 SHANNA LAI BASE ALAMEDA
HS1 KARA LUPO-MACK AIRSTA ATLANTIC CITY
HS2 KINA THAYER TRACEN CAPE MAY
4. IDHSOY - The winner of the 2022 IDHSOY Award is HS2
CHAD GUSTAFSON - White House Medical Unit:
    a. HS2 GUSTAFSON is being recognized for demonstrating unwavering
commitment to his shipmates over the past year. As the unit's only
IDHS, HS2 Gustafson is the sole healthcare provider at the WHCA
Clinic, providing clinical care and maintaining medical readiness
for 1,260 military members assigned to White House operations.
In 2022, HS2 Gustafson's actions as the NCOIC, IDHS and Paramedic
included providing expert care to 538 sick call patients, responding
as an expert in prehospital emergency care to four on-campus
emergencies, and boosting WHCA medical readiness by 40% through the
coordination and oversight of 980 Periodic Health Assessments (PHA),
525 venipunctures, 2108 vaccinations, and managing over 800 COVID-19
cases. HS2 Gustafson energetically sought out local volunteer
opportunities, including serving over 542 hours as a volunteer
Firefighter/Paramedic with the Morningside Volunteer Fire Department
(MVFD) in Prince George's County, Maryland. HS2's actions with this
501c3 non-profit organization included establishing the first
advanced life support ambulance program in MVFD's 79-year history
and responding to over 104 calls for service ranging from
medical and trauma emergencies to fires, vehicle collisions, and
technical rescues while providing high-quality care to over 88
patients.
    b. The following IDHSs were finalists for this award and
can take pride in their significant accomplishments during 2022:
HS1 WILLIAM ICE - CGC THETIS
HS2 MAYA PICINICH - CGC RESOLUTE
HS1 VINCENT CARRACCIO - MSST MIAMI
HS1 JONATHAN CHASTINE - CGC FORWARD
HSC ERIC GILLIARD - CGC STONE
HS1 REBECCA HOY - SECTOR SAULT STE MARIE
HS1 ANDREW PAIYARAT - AIRSTA NEW ORLEANS
HS1 MONICA SANCHEZ - TACLET SOUTH
    c. HS2 GUSTAFSON will be automatically nominated for the
Lewis Seaman Award for Outstanding Operational Support.
This is an annual award for enlisted personnel presented
by the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States
(AMSUS).
5. All nominees are worthy of the recognition and support provided
by their Commands. I applaud all the nominees for their
accomplishments and their Commanding Officers and supervisors for
taking the time to submit well-deserved nominations. Successful
mission execution demands the very best. Mission support
professionals must possess in-depth technical knowledge, strong
leadership skills, practical experience, and professional
credentials to sustain our greatest assets: our people.
I encourage all leaders to recognize their high performing
medical professionals by nominating them next year for the
2023 Health Care Awards. This year's awardees demonstrated
outstanding professionalism in carrying out their duties.
Bravo Zulu for a job very well done.
6. Award presentations for the 2022 winners will be scheduled
at a date and time TBD.
7. POC: CWO Luis A. Muniz, COMDT (CG-1122), (202) 475-5173,
Luis.A.Muniz@uscg.mil.
8. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety, and Work-Life
(CG-1K), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.