An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

MHS leaders honored by American Hospital Association

  • Published
  • By Military Health System Communications Office
  • Health.mil
Washington --  Two Military Health System (MHS) leaders were recognized recently by the American Hospital Association for their outstanding service to the health care field. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles Potter and Army Col. James D. Carrell received the honors during the recent American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Leadership Summit in San Francisco. Potter was the first chairman of the MHS Medical Operations Group, while Carrell served as chief of the Reception Medical Clinic at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

“General Potter and Colonel Carrell exemplify the commitment to serve our beneficiaries – from active duty military members to retirees to families,” said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Jonathan Woodson. “The AHA’s recognition highlights the work we do for our patients whether it’s on the battlefront or back home at their local clinic.”

Potter received the 2014 Federal Health Care Executive Award for Excellence. He was a major contributor to the MHS Governance structure. As the first-ever chairman of the DHA’s Medical Operations Group, he supported centralized, coordinated policy and guidance for delivering health services to all 9.5 million MHS beneficiaries.

As the director of Manpower, Personnel and Resources and chief of the Medical Service Corps, he advised the Air Force Surgeon General on all aspects of planning, programming, budgeting and execution for a program serving 2.6 million beneficiaries and 75 military treatment facilities worldwide. In addition, Potter managed personnel policy, force development and staffing requirements for 43,000 active-duty officer, enlisted and civilian personnel and was responsible for all Air Force medical education and training worldwide. He retired recently after 35 years of military service.

Carrell received the 2014 Federal Health Care Executive Special Achievement Award. In 2013, he recognized a significant problem: only 1 percent of soldiers who received their basic training at Fort Jackson arrived at their first duty station with their vision readiness, immunizations, medical warning tags and lab results documented in MEDPROS, the Army’s medical record system. By the time he and his clinic staff finished improving the process, 99 percent of soldiers from Fort Jackson arrived at their duty station with complete records.

“The honorees exemplify dedication to excellence and service to their country. On behalf of the American Hospital Association, I thank them for the work they do each day,” said Richard Umbdenstock, AHA president and CEO. “Our federal hospitals are priceless resources to our nation. The care provided is critical and the knowledge shared with other hospitals has added immeasurably to our capacity to treat complex conditions.”