February 2024
Cynthia R
French
,
MSN, MHSA, RN
Quality Management
Naval Health Clinic New England
Newport
,
RI
United States
Ms. French's efforts have been inspirational, and she has shown a level of energy and devotion to her work and this command that far exceeds the norm.
RN Cynthia French has had a powerfully positive role in the provision of safe, high-quality care to our patients. As her position description is to coordinate Quality Management for the Newport Clinic, Ms. French has stepped up and is going "above and beyond" to fulfill the interim role of Quality Management Officer for all four NMRTCNE Clinics. Since the DHA Accreditation Assist Visit occurred in May 2023, shortly after the QMO position was vacated, Ms. French has been coordinating the development and implementation of corrective actions for 86 separate findings - many of which involved more than one specific citing. She has been coordinating most, if not all, of the activities for the Emergency Response (Code Blue) Committee in the absence of the Chair. She has also been handling many customer service issues since the Patient Relations Coordinator has been unavailable for the past four months. All of her efforts - including those for her "regular job" of coordinating tracers, patient safety report investigations, performing rounds, and addressing all other quality management issues in Newport - have resulted in the sustainment of a strong culture of safety and continual improvement of quality in care delivery across the command. Ms. French's efforts have been inspirational, and she has shown a level of energy and devotion to her work and this command that far exceeds the norm. It is not an exaggeration to say that without her strong work and dedication, the Quality Management Department would be "dead in the water," and our patients would be less safe and would not be benefiting from the high level of quality care they are experiencing, thanks to her efforts. She is well deserving of any recognition she is given - along with our gratitude for her superlative efforts!