 |
|
PHS Commissioned Corps Officer Supports Department of Veterans Affairs Quality Award Program |
| |
|
U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps officer CDR Charlotte Spires, a veterinary officer with
the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, provided novel support to the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) by serving as an application examiner for the 14th Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Robert W. Carey Organizational Excellence Award. This is the department’s top award for quality achievement.
From 25 - 29 April and 2 - 6 May 2005, CDR Spires participated with a diverse team of mostly VA personnel in
examining applications submitted by VA medical centers and networks within the Veterans Benefits
Administration and the National Cemetery Administration. Additionally, CDR Spires served as a site visit
examiner for this year’s award winner the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX, 13 - 16 June 2005. |
| |
|
The Carey Award which is based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria is widely used as a
model for running a successful, quality organization. The award program centers on excellence in leadership,
strategic planning, focus on patients and staff, process management, and organizational performance results. |
| |
|
CDR Spires is the first PHS Commissioned Corps officer to provide support to the VA in evaluating its
entities for organizational excellence. She is certified by the American Society for Quality as a Certified
Quality Improvement Associate. |