Kenner Army Health Clinic says goodbye to Pina, hello to Bundt
By Sarah Steele Wilson, Newsroom Editor
Feb 15, 2013, 14:39
photo by Sarah Steele Wilson Col. Thomas Bundt, incoming commander at Kenner Army Health Clinic, takes the flag.
When Col. Joseph Pina passed the colors to Col. Thomas Bundt at a change of command ceremony on Friday, Fort Lee was saying goodbye to an accomplished medical leader.
“When you hear of just some of Kenner’s recent accomplishments under the command of Colonel Joe Pina, you will be impressed—as I have been—with what this team has added to the organization’s incredible legacy,” said Col . Donald R. West, commander of the Army’s Northern Region Medical Command.
West said that Pina maintained the quality of service and medical treatment while the post expanded under Base Realignment and Closure, necessitating two healthcare construction projects and four other renovations projects.
He also took steps and established programs to motivate staff members and strengthen their leadership skills.
West noted that Kenner has received excellent marks on recent reviews and scored a number one rating among peer facilities in the Medical Administrative Peer Report.
Pina also saw the customer satisfaction rating at Kenner rise from 85 percent to 96.8, the highest rating in the medical command.
When Colonel Pina arrived, Kenner was rated at 85 percent in customer satisfaction survey ratings. Last October, Kenner rated 96.8, the highest rating in the Army Medical Command. The Clinic finished last year ranked third in the Army medical command and first in the region in critical areas of military treatment and finished second in the Surgeon General’s Best MTF [military treatment facility] Competition.
photo by Sarah Steele Wilson Col. Thomas Bundt assumed command of Kenner Army Health Clinic on Friday during a change of command ceremony.
“All of these accomplishments, and many more unmentioned, signify a command and a commander committed to providing the highest quality service,” West said.
Pina, who came to Fort Lee from a posting in Hawaii and who will be leaving for the Pentagon, said in his remarks his clinic at Fort Lee snared him instantly.
“Kenner had me at hello,” he said.
He said one of his top two goals was to connect with people, which he considers a critical aspect of medical care.
“As a doctor, I learned long ago that the physician patient connection is paramount to the success of the patient’s well being,” he said.
He also had a goal to leave Kenner better than he found it and poised for additional success.
To illustrate that goal, he listed the clinic’s recent accomplishments, but spoke of the continuing goal of improving military health care, even in the face of budget cuts.
Pina said he was confident Col. Thomas Bundt is the person to guide Kenner through challenging times ahead.
“You are inheriting a great Meddac, in what you will find out very quickly from General Wyche, is on the greatest installation in the Department of Defense,” Pina told his successor.
photo by Sarah Steele Wilson Outgoing Kenner Army Health Clinic commander, Col. Joseph S. Pina, said goodbye to friends at the change of commander ceremony on Friday.
Bundt asked the staff to continue doing everything in their power to “sustain and maintain the greatest force on earth.”
“Not an easy task by any measure,” he said.
Bundt has a wife and son who will be joining him at Fort Lee.
