AF surgeon general: Travis has top hospital Published March 11, 2013 60th Medical Group Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 60th Medical Group's David Grant USAF Medical Center recently earned the 2012 Air Force Surgeon General Award for Best Hospital of the Year. The Air Force Surgeon General Award for Best Hospital is presented annually to the active-duty hospital or clinic that has accomplished or made significant contributions in the areas of mission support and customer service during the course of a year. Out of 75 military treatment facilities in the Air Force, DGMC garnered six individual and three major team awards, including best inpatient facility patient safety program and outstanding medical logistics account of the year, large activity, operated by the 60th Medical Support Squadron. The Air Force Surgeon General Award for Best Hospital is presented to the active-duty hospital or clinic that has accomplished or made significant contributions in the areas of mission support and customer service over the course of a year. "We have some of the most talented medics in the Air Force at this hospital," said Col. (Dr.) Kevin Connolly, 60th MDG commander. "This award really is a testament to the teamwork and intense dedication our Airmen medics have at DGMC and the support we have received and the opportunities we were given from Travis." According to Connolly, DGMC staff has worked hard to maintain the highest level of patient care throughout the Northern California region. "Our motto of 'Airmen first, medics always' really resonates with our staff as we continue to find opportunities to 'just say yes'," Connolly said. In 2012, the 60th MDG received recognition for numerous, highly-visible achievements including a no-notice health services inspection conducted by the Headquarters Air Force Inspection Agency's Directorate of Medical Operations and an accreditation survey by the Joint Commission. The medics also participated in worldwide humanitarian missions and prepared Travis Airmen for worldwide deployments without any discrepancies. Major construction projects included the completion of the $54 million phase one project and the start of a $61 million phase two structural improvement and modernization program to the 25-year-old, third-generation medical center. Although the achievements were a collaborative 60th MDG effort, the dedication of each individual to go the extra mile is what made the award possible, said Col. (Dr.) David Copp, 60th MDG deputy commander. "Our big thing here is taking care of Travis Airmen, their families and our retirees and veterans through our unique joint partnership between the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs," he said. "We believe it is important to make sure our Airmen, retirees and veterans get the world-class medical treatment they deserve and need." A high priority of the 60th MDG is the continuation of health-care training and operational readiness. "Training is something we continuously do here at DGMC since we're a teaching hospital with a lot of residency programs that graduate the next crop of medical professionals for the Air Force," Copp said. "We just experienced that first hand with the results of the recent Consolidated Unit Inspection here at Travis. As the flagship medical center in the Air Force, we take full advantage of the time we set aside for training to help our staff work even better as a team overall." As the best hospital in the Air Force for 2012, the 60th MDG plans to continue its award-winning practices in 2013. "Our goals for this year are to fulfill the satisfaction of our patients and continue supporting the mission here at Travis," Connolly said. "This award has given our staff incentive to keep working hard." The winners listed below represent a broad cross-section of every Air Force medical career field. Their accomplishments include patient care in Afghanistan and other forward-deployed locations, world-class research and teaching, improvement of home station medical care and outstanding oversight of the medical Personnel Reliability Program. Individual Awards: USAF Biomedical Clinician Category II Officer of the Year - Company Grade Category Capt. Courtney E. Harper - 60th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Outstanding Diet Therapy Airman of the Year SrA Lane W. Franklin - 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron The Air Force Cardiopulmonary Laboratory NCO of the Year SSgt Robert L. Wilson - 60th Surgical Operations Squadron USAF Pharmacy Technician Airman of the Year Award SrA Kristenn N. Thompson - 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron Physician Educator of the Year Maj. Patrick E. McClesky - 60th Medical Group USAF Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Research Award Lt. Col. David G. Watson - 60th Medical Group Team Awards: Outstanding Medical Logistics Account of the Year, Large Activity 60th Medical Support Squadron Best Inpatient Facility Patient Safety Program 60th Medical Group Patient Safety Program USAF Surgeon General Award for Best Hospital of the Year 60th Medical Group