INFORMATION CURRENT AS OF 1230 (EST), Mar. 4, 2022
Teammates,
Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, said it best: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
Our commitment to continuous learning and improvement is a key component of our efforts to advance high reliability across the MHS and provide high-quality care to our service members and their families. For the DHA, that means focusing on research, development, and innovation. As lifelong learners, that means dedicating time to reading.
While reading is an important part of professional development, it also has a role to play in maintaining physical and mental health. Reading has been shown to strengthen connections in the brain and improve memory and concentration. In fact, reading for just 30 minutes a day can reduce the physical and emotional signs of stress.
I’m often asked what books I’m currently reading or would recommend. It’s a simple question that brings me great joy. As a naturally inquisitive person, I often find inspiration, insight, and new perspectives in the pages of a good book. As we kick off National Reading Month, here’s my Professional Reading List, which includes books about our profession, health care, leadership, strategy, economics, and innovation. In short, there’s something for everyone.
Are any of your favorite books on my list? What are you currently reading and why?
To provide the best possible care to our 9.6 million beneficiaries, we must strive to better understand the world around us and never settle for the status quo. We must actively look for ways to make our daily operations safer and more efficient, and be willing to learn and adapt, to seek guidance from those with the most relevant knowledge and experience and then commit to using that knowledge to mentor others.
In their book, Patients Come Second: Leading Change by Changing the Way You Lead, authors Britt Berrett and Paul Spiegelman explain how the Navy’s Seal Team Six motivates and empowers its team: “Each member of the team knew the ultimate goal of their shared mission, and each had the tools required to make sure that goal was accomplished.”
Because of your dedication to our shared mission, we’re able to deliver the optimal care our beneficiaries expect and deserve. Thanks for all you do to embrace our mission, vision, and values as a DHA team.
rjp
Ronald J. Place, MD
LTG, US Army
Director, Defense Health Agency
#ICYMI – Here’s Some Additional News You Can Use
- Updated Guidance for Mask and Screening Testing for all Department of Defense Installations and Other Facilities: Please review the latest DoD Guidance memo as of March 1 on masking and screening testing requirements based on new CDC COVID-19 community levels. As a reminder, health care facilities are treated differently. The memo *does not* apply to health care facilities and other kinds of high congregant settings per the Safer Federal Workforce Guidance.
- Patient Safety Culture Survey Extended: The deadline to complete the survey has been extended to March 10. This is your opportunity to voice your opinions and contribute to patient safety improvements. Results will be provided at overall MHS and MTF levels in order to identify actionable strengths and improvement areas, provide comparisons, examine trends in staff burnout rates, and more. The anonymous survey takes only about 10 minutes to complete.
- VIDEO: Please Donate Blood!: LTG Place and CSM Gragg discuss the importance of donating blood. Saving lives starts with you. One blood donation can save up to three lives and make an immediate difference for our warfighters, their families, and the entire military community. If you’re a military leader, consider scheduling a blood drive in your unit, or find a donation location near you. Ready, set, donate!
- Save the Date – Women Building a Resilient Nation: Join us on March 10 from 1-2pm EST for a DHA HQ panel discussion honoring the women who have played major roles in defending our nation, strengthening our health care system, and supporting every other aspect of American society.
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