Press Release

American Hospital Association Honors Two Federal Health Care Leaders: Captain Pachuta and Lieutenant Colonel Kosmatka are 2011 Honorees

CHICAGO (March 22, 2012) – The American Hospital Association (AHA) today presented two federal hospital leaders with awards recognizing their outstanding service in the health care field. These awards recognize federal health care leaders who have distinguished themselves through singularly significant achievements and leadership or innovative achievements that have contributed substantially to the mission of the federal health system.

“Today’s honorees exemplify dedication to excellence and service to their country and, on behalf of the AHA, I thank them for the incredible work they do each day,” said Rich Umbdenstock, AHA president and CEO. “Their commitment, under difficult circumstances, to improving care for their fellow service members inspires us all.”

The recipient of the 2011 Federal Health Care Executive Award for Excellence is Capt. Stephen M. Pachuta, DDS, MS, Dental Corps, Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka in Japan.

Capt. Pachuta is recognized as an outstanding servant and transformational leader, who leads an energized command focused on a climate of quality management. He championed a patient and workplace culture of safety, resulting in national military recognition. Clinically active, he continues to maintain a comprehensive dental practice, setting the standard for clinical excellence.

In 2011, Pachuta established a cohesive command leadership team at the U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, delivering high quality health care services to the largest geographic command in Navy Medicine, covering three countries spanned over 6,000 miles. Demonstrating unparalleled performance, Pachuta drove the Navy’s regional military medical response and public health services in support of Operation Tomodachi, after the Japan earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant accident. He ensured comprehensive coordination and liaised with multiple Joint headquarters while maintaining uninterrupted, 24/7 full hospital operations. Providing oversight of the complex distribution of more than 30,000 potassium iodide doses, he led consequence management initiatives in response to operating in a radioactive environment and developed Continuity of Operations Plans.

Additionally, Pachuta oversaw implementation of the TRICARE Overseas Program, which included establishing International SOS as the single contractor for coordination and payment of care delivered; cultivating existing relationships with host nation providers and institutions; coordinating host nation medical conferences vital to building strong international partnerships; and organized coordination and support for the Defense Policy Review Initiative focused on clinic expansion at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to support the offering of inpatient obstetric and expanded primary care services.

Pachuta has distinguished himself as an outstanding leader whose achievements have contributed substantially to the federal health system mission, exemplified by a  remarkable performance during an unprecedented nuclear disaster, a catastrophic natural event, and the superb management of an extremely diverse geographical overseas hospital.

The recipient of the 2011 Federal Health Care Executive Special Achievement Award is Lt. Col. Timothy J. Kosmatka, United States Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Lt. Col. Kosmatka has distinguished himself as Consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General for Family Medicine and was chosen as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to design and implement the Air Force’s Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs). Over the last three years, he has led 10 advisors on 150 site visits to Air Force Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) to teach PCMH processes to teams of providers, nurses and technicians and conducted worldwide educational teleconferences that are routinely attended by over 300 staff. As of February 1, 2012, all Air Force Family Health Clinics have implemented PCMHs, involving over 715,000 patients worldwide. A formal training course focused specifically on PCMH also is in place.

To implement pay for performance, Kosmatka spearheaded the development of standardized performance assessment measures utilizing the areas of patient satisfaction, continuity of care, decreased emergency room and urgent care utilization and improved patient outcomes.

Additionally, Kosmatka extended his work to pediatrics, benefitting more than 230,000 patients and 250 providers, and currently assists with the development of the Internal Medicine PCMH model. As the Air Force SME, he has been instrumental in developing the Military Health System PCMH Guide, and in leading its standardization and implementation across the Department of Defense. He lends his expertise to the Army and Navy frequently, serves on the TRICARE Management Activity Tri-Service PCMH Advisory Board and has led 15 MTFs through National Committee for Quality Assurance PCMH recognition.

Kosmatka has worked to not only retain qualified family physicians and improve their educational experiences, but was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom himself, and is responsible for guaranteeing clinical expertise in correct locations worldwide by coordinating the deployment of over 250 family medicine physicians. Kosmatka has continuously proven himself as a role model through outstanding service and dedication to his country, his patients, fellow physicians and providers and, most importantly, service men and women.

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About the AHA
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. Close to 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 42,000 individual members come together to form the AHA. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA Web site at www.aha.org.