COMING SOON - New Electronic Health Record (EHR) System for NOAA Corps Officers

Any of this sound familiar? "Plug in code "OO." I'm in the NOAA Corps. Haven't you heard of it? NOAA! CORPS! Try code "000". Ok fine...here's my paper file."

NOAA Corps officers receiving care at Military Treatment Facilities has historically been a challenge when the medical office's computer system does not recognize us. Well, here is an investment and positive change that we are close to implementing. For nearly two years the Office of Health Services (OHS) and MACC have been brokering an agreement with the Program Executive Office, Defense Healthcare Management Systems (PEO DHMS) for an electronic health records solution for NOAA. Finally, this month an interagency agreement was signed for the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Military Health System (MHS) Genesis. MHS Genesis reduces the need for applicable NOAA employees to carry hard-copy (paper) medical records and provides increased interoperability between the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and the DoD. In other words - you're going to be in the system that every other service member uses. Implementation will be ongoing in FY2023.

Watch this short video for a quick overview.
MHS GENESIS Overview

NOAA Corps Policy Development

On Monday, October 3, NOAA published a final rule in the Federal Register to implement provisions of the Military Whistleblower Protection Act for NOAA Corps officers, as authorized by the NOAA Corps Amendments Act of 2020. This rulemaking will become effective on November 2, and will be codified at 15 C.F.R. Part 998, Subpart D.

As members of a uniformed service, NOAA Corps officers are not covered under the Whistleblower Protection Act (5 U.S.C. 2302), and prior to the enactment of the NOAA Corps Amendments Act of 2020, NOAA Corps officers were also not covered by the Military Whistleblower Protection Act. NOAA Corps officers generally have a duty to report information evidencing a violation of law or regulation (including sexual harassment or discrimination), gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds or other resources, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. This final rule:

• Protects lawful disclosures by NOAA Corps officers of such information to Members of Congress, an Inspector General, Department of Commerce investigation or law enforcement organizations, and persons in their chain of command;
• Prohibits any NOAA Corps officer or employee of the Department of Commerce from taking or threatening to take a personnel action, or withholding or threatening to withhold a personnel action against a NOAA Corps officer for making or preparing or being perceived as making or preparing a protected communication;
• Prescribes responsibilities of the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce to investigate claims of reprisal against NOAA Corps officers and to report those findings to the Secretary, the Administrator, the NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, the Director of the NOAA Corps, and to the NOAA Corps officer or former NOAA Corps officer making the allegation; and
• Prescribes procedures by which a NOAA Corps officer or former NOAA Corps officer whose complaint of reprisal has been investigated by the Inspector General may request that the Director of the NOAA Corps convene a records examination board to make recommendations concerning corrections, deletions, or additions to the NOAA Corps officer or former NOAA Corps officer’s personnel records.

BOTC Program Updates

The past few weeks have been big for BOTC 140. The class graduated from Junior to Senior Status with a day of trials and tests requiring them to use the knowledge and skills they had gained in the program so far. They completed this just in time for their departure on USCGC Barque Eagle for a 2 week trip from New London to Baltimore, with a port call in Newport RI. Aboard Eagle, BOTC 140 and their CG shipmates learned the basics of watchstanding, damage control, celestial navigation, and ROTR. They hauled on lines and climbed masts to set, douse and furl Eagle's sails. In Newport, the students hosted tours and a visit from the state's two senators, as well as enjoyed some time away from the ship and with family.

After returning to the Coast Guard Academy October 1st, the OCs reverted back to their shoreside barracks lifestyle. This week they've started their classroom ROTR training and Thursday evening the Officer Candidates received their long awaited billets.

OC Sween climbing the rigging aboard Eagle. Photo Credit: USCG LDC Facebook page

OC Gerrior plugging a pipe leak in a DC drill aboard Eagle. Photo Credit: USCG LDC Facebook page

OC Gerrior and OC Owen out on the main mast lower yardarm. Photo Credit: USCG LDC Facebook page

OC Seward, Rose, Schillmoller and Doran aboard Eagle. Photo Credit: OC Owen

OC Herdrich and LTJG Aguling on the helm. Photo Credit: OC Owen

OC Harrison plays the violin in heavy seas. Photo Credit: OC Owen

OC Xu and Alvey Photo Credit: OC Owen

October 2022 Marine Operations MWR Newsletter - We're Back

Excerpt from the MWR Newsletter below. Read the full newsletter here

From the Desk of the Editor - Ahoy Admirals, ladies and gentlemen, shipmates, wing mates and shore mates, friends, and families of OMAO. My name is Rob Edwards and I am absolutely thrilled to be able to pick up the mantle once again as the Editor of the MWR Newsletter. It has been a hot minute since last I got the chance to address you all back in the winter of 2020. Since then a lot has changed, but one thing that has remained constant has been your tireless efforts to go out and collect the scientific and environmental data critical to the United States of America and the world. Therefore, for these Herculean efforts through hurricanes, pandemics, budget battles, politics and presidents, you all, the OMAO Family, win this month’s Editor’s Seal of Approval. Bravo!

Personnel Announcement - OHS Director

I am pleased to announce CDR Scott Miller as OMAO's next Director, Office of Health Services.

CDR Scott Miller is a USPHS officer and Physician Assistant who has served the Indian Health Service for eighteen years in a variety of leadership positions. While serving in a large Tribal Health Organization in Fairbanks, Alaska his roles included Director of Telemedicine and Health Innovation, Deputy Medical Director, Air Ambulance Service Director, Primary Care Team Lead, and Advanced Practice Provider Supervisor. CDR Miller has a focus on health program management and development as well as quality improvement and innovation. He was initially drawn to NOAA after a brief interaction with NOAA Ship Fairweather.

CDR Miller was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology. He later acquired a Master of Clinical Medical Science upon completion of the Physician Assistant Program at Barry University in Miami, Florida. Despite a passion and aptitude for cardiology, he left a highly acclaimed cardiology practice in Miami to provide care to the underserved Alaska Native population in the remote village of Galena, Alaska. CDR Miller’s driving force is his family. He enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, and hunting.

I want to extend my sincere appreciation to CDR Jesse McAllister for his recent time as Acting Director, OHS. I know many others in OHS have stepped up during this time and I am also grateful for the extra effort and commitment to the mission.

Please join me in welcoming CDR Miller to the team!

Warm Regards,
Chad

Info Session - October 19th, 2022 at 1300-1400 ET: R/V Gloria Michelle F7201

Any junior officer interested in the R/V Gloria Michelle (GM) is invited to a virtual information session with GM alumni. During this session, prior OIC's will be available to speak to experiences and expectations of the assignment. Additionally, this will be a chance to learn about the requisite skills needed to be successful and how this assignment sets officers up for future sea assignments. The link for the google meet is: https://meet.google.com/afe-kcvi-bax . If you have any specific questions you would like answered during the info session, please reach out to CDR Carl Rhodes at carl.rhodes@noaa.gov.

From the Assignments Desk: NMFS - Billet #2471- Junior Officer in Charge (JOIC), R/V Gloria Michelle

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) is looking for a highly motivated officer to serve aboard the R/V Gloria Michelle (GM) at Woods Hole, MA starting around September 2023. The GM is a 72’ bottom trawl vessel that has been conducting the Gulf of Maine Shrimp Survey and the Massachusetts State Bottom Trawl Survey for over 30 consecutive years and is vital to the northeast fisheries stock assessment.

Assigned officers are responsible for the safe operation and compliance with NOAA Small Boat Program requirements. The JOIC will gain experience working in and around MA, ME and NH. General marine engineering knowledge is recommended as the officer will be working with the OIC to operate and maintain the major systems (main engine, generators, electrical system, plumbing, etc.) in addition to managing crew and deck operations. The JOIC will also have a role in formulating the vessel budget, operational logistics, maintenance, and contract procurement for winter repairs and other large projects. The JOIC reports directly to the Officer in Charge (OIC) and is expected to succeed the OIC upon successful completion of the JOIC assignment.

Interested officers should update preferences, contact the Assignment Coordinator and the OIC, LT Alexander Creed at alexander.creed@noaa.gov, to learn more.

From the Assignments Desk: NWS - Billet# 4003: Science and Applied Technology Transition Officer

The U.S. National Ice Center (USNIC) is a tri-agency of NOAA, the U.S. Navy (USN), and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and is the exclusive source of tactical scale snow and ice products for intelligence agencies, USN submarines, USCG vessels, NOAA, National Science Foundation, and University-National Oceanographic Lab System research vessels operating in and near ice infested waters.

The assigned officer serves as the Transitions and Initiatives (T&I) Officer leading cross-departmental science-to-operations activities with a focus on the evaluation and implementation of new products, data sources, and organizational processes. In this capacity, the officer will gain valuable project management experience, as well as exposure to emerging technologies, GIS software, and IT infrastructure. The officer also serves as a program manager for the U.S. International Arctic Buoy Program and the U.S. International Program for Antarctic Buoys. Working closely with multiple agencies positions the officer well for future liaison assignments.

Interested officers rotating between April 2023 and April 2024 should contact LT Jacquelyn Putnam at jacquelyn.putnam@noaa.gov; NWS liaison, CAPT Michael Levine at michael.levine@noaa.gov; or the assignment coordinator to learn more.