Army and Navy short on doctors

Is there a doctor in the house?
by Bryan Kirk Killeen Writer
Published: May 18, 2009
FORT HOOD - Uncle Sam is looking for qualified physicians, dentists and nurses.

According to an Army Times article, the Army was 73 physicians short of its annual allotment, while the Navy was 86 doctors short.

That dilemma has been in the crosshairs at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center since 2007, and recruiters have been meeting that challenge head-on to ensure the hospital has quality health care providers.

“For the last couple of years we’ve been very aggressive here,” said Col. Casper Jones, who commands Darnall Hospital. “The question is, have we made up any ground and are we any better off, and I would say absolutely yes, we are better off.”

Two years ago, Darnall began its search for qualified health care providers, especially in the areas of prenatal and postnatal care.

“Let’s remember that Darnall Medical Center is No. 1 in the Department of Defense for birthing,” Jones said.

As a result of those efforts, Darnall is doing well.

Darnall has increased its medical staffing from 128 in 2007 to 170 in 2009, but there are still shortages.

Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, who commands III Corps and Fort Hood, calls the recruiting approach employed by Darnall “aggressive marketing” and finding the right fit for the right specialty.

“The shortages that we have of medical professionals isn’t the money, it’s the doctors themselves,” Lynch said.

It’s no secret the greatest need on Fort Hood is in the mental health arena, as a growing number of soldiers are reporting symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury to their chain of command.

Right now, Darnall has 28 openings - 12 clinical psychologists, eight psychiatric nurse practitioners and eight social workers.
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Is there a doctor in the house