Army General Horoho

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Zenman1

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She recently announced her retirement effective end of this year.

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Mark my words...

A run for Congress is coming.
 
Whatever it takes to get her out of uniform, figuratively.

(edited to clarify, for lurking whomevers)
 
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Her 4 year term is up next month. It's pretty much status quo to retire after a high profile assignment like that. One recent exception was GEN James Jones, USMC, who went on to be SACEUR, after his term as Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.
 
I know several O5 nurnels eyeing the position, after she showed it was possible. They just need to knock out a quick 5-6 week deployment first, so it's possible a current 1-2 star physician may hold the position pro tem until they redeploy.
 
I know several O5 nurnels eyeing the position, after she showed it was possible. They just need to knock out a quick 5-6 week deployment first, so it's possible a current 1-2 star physician may hold the position pro tem until they redeploy.

I hope the "experiment" is over and an actual physician is put back into this position. She has been a complete disaster with regard to MEDOM policies (brigade surgeon tours, CME funding cuts, lower O-5/O-6 promotion MC promotion rates, performance triad metrics rather than real medicine, etc). Maybe it wouldn't be different with a physician, but somehow I think it would.

I truly feel for my army buddies stuck in long ADSOs (USUHS, ROTC, Academy, fellowships) who are forced to practice medicine in this organization.

I still have yet to meet a former military physician who regrets leaving before the reaching retirement.
 
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Unfortunately, with the "any change is good", bullet-point driven mentality, the performance triad and cost-trimming measures like CME curtailment may be here to stay. It had been enough to cause a culture shift away from a focus on medical care to healthfulness promotion.
 
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The following was posted on the Senate Website

2015-11-16 PN941 Army
The following named officer for appointment as The Surgeon General, United
States Army, and for appointment in the United States Army to the grade
indicated while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility
under title 10, U.S.C., sections 601 and 3036: Maj. Gen. Nadja Y. West, to
be Lieutenant General
 
The following was posted on the Senate Website

2015-11-16 PN941 Army
The following named officer for appointment as The Surgeon General, United
States Army, and for appointment in the United States Army to the grade
indicated while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility
under title 10, U.S.C., sections 601 and 3036: Maj. Gen. Nadja Y. West, to
be Lieutenant General
Well, she's a doc, and went to West Point. I see that she earned the CMB. So, a good start, at least. And the brass get a black woman - double score!
 
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Well, she's a doc, and went to West Point. I see that she earned the CMB. So, a good start, at least. And the brass get a black woman - double score!

Agreed. She can't be any worse than the current SG. She's dual residency trained (FM & Dermatology). She has a lot of operational/administrative (ie leadership) assignments throughout her career. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. She may not get that being a Brigade or Division surgeon is a killer for a specialist because she's done it as a dermatologist in her quest to make rank. However, I guess it's just par for the course because I am not sure she could have gotten to where she is now without having those operational/administrative assignments under her belt?
 
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When CHRTAS, or whatever it's called, first came out I put down General Horoho's name as my mentor. I figured as a civilian (vet) NP I had nowhere to go since I only wanted to treat patients and didn't care for a management job. A few days later our chief (Major) sent me an email, "call me asap." I did and he asked me if I really asked Horoho to be my mentor. When I told him I did he burst out laughing. Apparently one of her staff was in his office at the time when one of Horoho's LTC's called wanting to know who the heck I was. I guess she didn't have time for me but I was famous for a week.
 
For what it is worth, we are seeing healthcare leadership disasters across the board, even in civilian medicine.

My observations on the civilian side have been the following:
--You put a doctor/nurse in charge of a hospital or healthcare organization, yes, they have a keen sense of what it means to admininister quality care but have a poor business sense = DISASTER!
--You put a high speed MBA CEO in charge, they know how to crunch the numbers and make money but have a poor sense of what it means to administer quality care = DISASTER!

Just an example to clarifiy my point. Let us say that the administrators at St. Elsewhere hospital "coerce" their orthopedic surgeons to order all studies through their hospital-owned imaging centers, hence, a large revenue. But what if St. Nowhere across town has a fellowship trained musculoskeletal radiologist on staff? If you were an orthopedic surgeon in this situation, would you subject your patient to a lower quality of care due to the fear of retaliation from your own hospital administrators? Trust me, I've been there, its not a pretty place to be!!

Hopefully, things work out for the Army.
 
Hi kids! I'm back after keeping my head down till I escaped the Army. Ok. Horoho was a turd of unprecedented magnitude but one of many that have floated to the top through incompetence and duplicity. Remember it isn't cream that floats in the AMEDD. She was a disaster no doubt and personally really gutted physician morale and compromised quality care. She was a cancer, we can only hope her replacement will only be locally advanced rather than widely metastatic. I feel bad for those of you with obligations. Stay low to the ground and just try to keep yourself qualified enough to get a job when you are paroled.
 
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The following was posted on the Senate Website

2015-11-16 PN941 Army
The following named officer for appointment as The Surgeon General, United
States Army, and for appointment in the United States Army to the grade
indicated while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility
under title 10, U.S.C., sections 601 and 3036: Maj. Gen. Nadja Y. West, to
be Lieutenant General

http://www.army.mil/article/159884/

You called it!
 
Hi kids! I'm back after keeping my head down till I escaped the Army. Ok. Horoho was a turd of unprecedented magnitude but one of many that have floated to the top through incompetence and duplicity. Remember it isn't cream that floats in the AMEDD. She was a disaster no doubt and personally really gutted physician morale and compromised quality care. She was a cancer, we can only hope her replacement will only be locally advanced rather than widely metastatic. I feel bad for those of you with obligations. Stay low to the ground and just try to keep yourself qualified enough to get a job when you are paroled.

What's really great is that they've started playing her farewell message every 5 minutes on AFN where I'm stationed at. It's like burned into my brain at this point...
 
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No, you can stop doing that now. Go back to how it was pre-Horoho, where you never did any of those things.
 
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So when are the performance triad posters coming down? Or are we still supposed to eat, sleep and exercise?

Don't forget to clear from behavioral health!

This triad was not well thought out. Members of the military get plenty of activity. It's called "PT." I see many of them around 0600 every morning smoking a cigarette before they run. They get to eat at the DFAC or one of many other eating joints on post. I know cause I see them at BK a lot. They don't get much sleep cause someone thinks they should get up everyday to do their "activity." Maybe PT should be later in the morning and perhaps 3 days a week instead of 5. Aren't you supposed to take a day off between exercise in order for your body to heal?
 
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You're overthinking the triad. It's really just off-the-cuff, meaningless BS that came into being simply because something had to come into being. It's the type of thing you should expect when someone who isn't a physician tries to be a physician, and feels like they're saying something meaningful and creative. It's the medical equivalent of a country fair craft show.
 
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You're overthinking the triad. It's really just off-the-cuff, meaningless BS that came into being simply because something had to come into being. It's the type of thing you should expect when someone who isn't a physician tries to be a physician, and feels like they're saying something meaningful and creative. It's the medical equivalent of a country fair craft show.

I don't know if I agree. Comparing the performance triad to a country craft shows really doesn't do country craft shows justice.

The performance triad reminds me of one of those ridiculous afn commercials stating the importance of a balanced personal budget. Although the target audience may need a nudge in the direction of competent personal finance, I'm pretty sure we all have figured out it's important to eat, sleep, and exercise.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of meaningless things like this dreamed up by those in leadership positions who are after a good oer bullet.
 
Anyone know anything about LTG Nadja West, Horoho's successor?
 
Anyone know anything about LTG Nadja West, Horoho's successor?

Slid1e4-D6ec-15
• I am the daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend of those who have served, are serving, or will
serve our Nation. The military has been woven into who I am since childhood.

• I believe in:
– Maintaining an environment of dignity and respect and a sense of decorum
– Transparency in words and actions
– Open communication
– Candor and honest opinions
– Mission Command: Following the process
– Joint solutions for a complex world
– Minimizing buzzwords that do no reflect substance
– Change for the better
– Eliminating hubris and arrogance…

Enjoy
 
I don't know if I agree. Comparing the performance triad to a country craft shows really doesn't do country craft shows justice.

The performance triad reminds me of one of those ridiculous afn commercials stating the importance of a balanced personal budget. Although the target audience may need a nudge in the direction of competent personal finance, I'm pretty sure we all have figured out it's important to eat, sleep, and exercise.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of meaningless things like this dreamed up by those in leadership positions who are after a good oer bullet.
I only mean to say: it's a crappy version meant of something meant to be useful. This stuff isn't going away, but the triad was a prime and particularly sad example.
 
Slid1e4-D6ec-15
• I am the daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend of those who have served, are serving, or will
serve our Nation. The military has been woven into who I am since childhood.

• I believe in:
– Maintaining an environment of dignity and respect and a sense of decorum
– Transparency in words and actions
– Open communication
– Candor and honest opinions
– Mission Command: Following the process
– Joint solutions for a complex world
– Minimizing buzzwords that do no reflect substance
– Change for the better
– Eliminating hubris and arrogance…

Enjoy

Am I going Derrida on a powerpoint presentation or do some of these bullets seem to pointedly address issues with the last last Surgeon General? No more "performance triads", "blue ocean strategy", or "high reliability organizations"? No more reprimanding of interns for failing to salute a Prius?

Dear, 8-pound, 6-ounce, newborn infant Jesus, don't even know a word yet, just a little infant and so cuddly, but still omnipotent... Please make it so.
 
We need more bill rap concepts like influencing the Soldier's "Life Space" and other grand Horoho concepts which lost focus on actual medical care. I don't know West but have no doubt demographics had as much in her selection as ability.
 
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Am I going Derrida on a powerpoint presentation or do some of these bullets seem to pointedly address issues with the last last Surgeon General? No more "performance triads", "blue ocean strategy", or "high reliability organizations"? No more reprimanding of interns for failing to salute a Prius?

Dear, 8-pound, 6-ounce, newborn infant Jesus, don't even know a word yet, just a little infant and so cuddly, but still omnipotent... Please make it so.

Nah, same crap

What Concerns Me
•Hubris
•Lapses in dignity and respect
•Integrity violations
•Not taking care of our people
•Excuses, instead of “I do not know but I will find out”
•A lack of teamwork or coordination
•Briefings with no purpose
•Re-learning lessons already learned
•Changing the “tone” of my message
•Invoking my name/position
•Change for change’s sake
•Momentum couched as progress
•The killer B’s: Beans, Bullets, Band-aids, Budget, Bad Behavior



Impact of improper/illegal behavior
–Sexual assault/harassment
–Fraternization
–Discrimination
–Bullying/Hazing
–Reprisals
–Drug/Alcohol Abuse
 
Slid1e4-D6ec-15
• I am the daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend of those who have served, are serving, or will
serve our Nation. The military has been woven into who I am since childhood.

• I believe in:
– Maintaining an environment of dignity and respect and a sense of decorum
– Transparency in words and actions
– Open communication
– Candor and honest opinions
– Mission Command: Following the process
– Joint solutions for a complex world
– Minimizing buzzwords that do no reflect substance
– Change for the better
– Eliminating hubris and arrogance…

Enjoy

I worked under West for 1 year and really have no opinion about her ability to fill the Surgeon General role. However, I find it interesting that she includes in her beliefs "minimizing buzzwords that do not reflect substance" when everything listed above includes no substance. What the hell does "change for the better" and "joint solutions for a complex world" even mean? I am so tired with all these leaders simply being "yes-men (or women)." They are all monkeys on a flagpole staring up at all the asses above them and doing whatever they say (whether right or not).

I guess this is why I wasn't cut out for the military.
 
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I now have her "First Day Briefing." I'm afraid I may have to join the union in order to keep my job as I think my smartass behavior will have to continue. Did West work under Horoho? What the hell do these words even mean? Perhaps I should ask her if she would like me to send her my powerpoint detailing what goes on down on the front lines, all in the interest of "maintaining open lines of communication" and letting "junior personnel brief me." This is like having Obama running for a 3rd term. I'm actually glad I don't have too many years left on the face of this earth.
 
Nah, same crap

What Concerns Me
•Hubris
•Lapses in dignity and respect
•Integrity violations
•Not taking care of our people
•Excuses, instead of “I do not know but I will find out”
•A lack of teamwork or coordination
•Briefings with no purpose
•Re-learning lessons already learned
•Changing the “tone” of my message
•Invoking my name/position
•Change for change’s sake
•Momentum couched as progress
•The killer B’s: Beans, Bullets, Band-aids, Budget, Bad Behavior



Impact of improper/illegal behavior
–Sexual assault/harassment
–Fraternization
–Discrimination
–Bullying/Hazing
–Reprisals
–Drug/Alcohol Abuse


She forgot "Wu Tang Killa Bees".
 
I now have her "First Day Briefing." I'm afraid I may have to join the union in order to keep my job as I think my smartass behavior will have to continue. Did West work under Horoho? What the hell do these words even mean? Perhaps I should ask her if she would like me to send her my powerpoint detailing what goes on down on the front lines, all in the interest of "maintaining open lines of communication" and letting "junior personnel brief me." This is like having Obama running for a 3rd term. I'm actually glad I don't have too many years left on the face of this earth.

I think you're reading too much into this. Changes of command, at any level, are about pleasantries and setting a positive tone, and its a glaring red flag when they're anything else. 'I'm honored by' ... 'Thank you all for' .... 'My door is always open' ... 'in the proudest tradition of' ... 'shipmates' ... 'look forward to working with all of you in the years to come'. Like the nicely pressed whites you wear with each PCS, or your attendance and behavior at the hail and farewell, its a way of showing that you understand protocol and care enough about your job and coworkers to follow it.

The policies come later, and will be more informative.
 
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BTW I read General West's bio, it seems legitimately impressive. Good schools, multiple real deployments (earned a CMB), small MTF provider and command experience, academic medicine experience, high level command experience, and has successfully worked with Washington. They don't mention her Step one but... Derm. Obviously credentials aren't everything, but she definitely seems to have the education and experience to know what all the components of the Army medicine need. If it was my service I would be cautiously optomistic.

http://www.army.mil/africanamericans/profiles/west.html
 
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