NMCSD achieves meritorious status in quality metrics
11/12/2019
by MCSN Luke Cunningham,
Naval Medical Center San Diego Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvements Program (NSQIP) recently recognized Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) for meritorious outcomes in several categories throughout calendar year 2018.
ACS NSQIP is a data-driven, risk-adjusted, outcome-based program whose goal is to improve the quality of surgical care. It provides a facility-based assessment of surgical outcomes, with actionable information and data for targeting improvements.
The achievement is awarded annually to participating hospitals, both military and civilian, who perform within the top 10 percent with meritorious outcomes.
Over 700 hospitals participated in the 2018 calendar-year for ACS NSQIP.
NMCSD is one of 56 hospitals to be recognized in the adult NSQIP for achieving meritorious outcomes in both categories: all cases and high risk.
Each participating facility requires a team to operationalize the NSQIP. NMCSD’s team is comprised of a surgeon champion, Cmdr. Kyle Gadbois, an assistant surgeon champion, Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Morrissey, and Mollie Mullen, a surgical nurse reviewer.
“This recognition is validation of the dedication and quality care provided to our patients by all members of our surgical team,” said Mollie Mullen, NMCSD’s advisor for clinical quality to the directorate for surgical services. “I am so proud to be a part of NMCSD and to see this wonderful achievement.”
Hospitals that are recognized by NSQIP achieve a meritorious composite score through a weighted formula, combining eight outcomes in the following categories: mortality, cardiac, pneumonia, unplanned intubation, ventilator longer than 48 hours, renal failure, surgical site infections and urinary tract infections.
“NMCSD is one of the original DOD pilot sites to test NSQIP,” said Mullen. “I am fortunate to have piloted the program for NMCSD in 2004. It is incredibly exciting to see the growth of the program throughout the past 15 years, both locally and throughout military medicine.”
Operationalizing NSQIP can involve collaboration with other hospitals that have implemented successful improvements, and learning from each other.
Capt. Juliann Althoff, NMCSD’s chief medical officer, said that NMCSD has been a recognized leader in NSQIP efforts across Navy Medicine and the Military Health System.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for the hospital,” said Althoff. “The recognition reflects the high quality of care provided to our beneficiaries.”
ACS NSQIP provides benchmarking with over 700 military and civilian hospitals throughout the world, and shares data for its best practices to improve patient care and patient outcomes.
The NMCSD NSQIP is one of 46 Military Health System military treatment facilities participating in the DOD NSQIP collaborative.
The ACS was founded in 1913 as a scientific and educational organization used to reduce surgical morbidity and mortality, raise the standard of surgical practice, and improve the care of the surgical patient.
NMCSD’s mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high quality healthcare services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training, and research. NMCSD employs more than 6,000 active duty military personnel, civilians, and contractors in Southern California to provide patients with world-class care anytime, anywhere.

Military News | Navy News | NMCSD meritorious outcomes