October 12, 2010
Dear Officers:
As an officer serving in the Commissioned Corps, you are critical to our efforts to improve and protect the nation’s health. We have heard from many of you on issues facing the Corps. Over the last number of months, we have been working to resolve these issues; including:
- Conducting a Management Review of the Commissioned Corps;
- Clarifying and Crystallizing our Mission;
- Implementing the Ready Reserve Corps; and,
- Lifting the “pause” in new calls-to-duty.
In the coming weeks, we will have more to report on these issues. Today, we want to provide an update on the Management Review.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requested a comprehensive management review of the Commissioned Corps focusing on three areas: (1) The development of an accountability structure that identifies which office is responsible for each component of the Commissioned Corps operations; (2) The creation of a system for tracking and supporting officers; and (3) The implementation of a revised billet system.
As part of the information gathering for this review, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health partnered with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration to conduct meetings and interviews with key advisory groups to the Surgeon General, senior officials in operating divisions, flag officers, as well as other uniformed services providers. We listened to your suggestions about streamlining processes and improving operational efficiency and found them to be invaluable.
Based on the findings and your feedback, we submitted a management review report to the OMB last month. A summary is available on the Commissioned Corps Management Information System. The key recommendations of the report are to streamline the administrative structure of the Corps by establishing clear lines of reporting, consolidating policy and operations under the Surgeon General with clear points of accountability. We are confident these recommendations will provide a better accountability structure and lead to enhanced customer service for our officers. We are hopeful that these actions will strengthen our efficiency and effectiveness – and ultimately lead to a stronger Commissioned Corps.
We are committed to continuing this dialogue and working together with you to address ongoing issues. We will be improving the lines of communication through quarterly calls, e-mail and Facebook updates, articles in the Commissioned Corps E-Bulletin, and hosting forums for discussion.
We are proud to serve as your leaders and thank you for your ongoing commitment to public health.
Sincerely,
Howard K Koh, MD, MPH Regina M Benjamin, MD, MBA
Assistant Secretary for Health VADM, USPHS Surgeon General