Healthcare Resolutions Program

About

The Healthcare Resolutions Program at Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center (ATAMMC), formerly Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, can help resolve clinically complex issues in a private and neutral setting when Patient and Guest Relations or Patient Advocacy staff are unable to resolve the issue.

Patient Issues

Healthcare Resolutions can help resolve issues with health care, such as:

• Dissatisfaction with treatment outcomes or quality of care
• Unexpected/adverse outcomes of care
• Medical errors
• Misdiagnosis or delays in diagnosis
• Unexpected deaths
• Problems communicating with the health care team

Goals

The goals of Healthcare Resolutions are to:

• Resolve complex health care disputes, issues, and concerns at the lowest level, directly and at the earliest opportunity
• Foster a fair resolution process for all parties: patients, health care providers, and the military treatment facility
• Combine patient, family, and provider input into process improvement initiatives and enhance patient-provider partnership in care delivery, consistent with our role as a high-reliability organization
• Help people help themselves by aiding patients and health care professionals to focus on issues that may affect the delivery of quality patient care

Guiding Principles

• Confidentiality. Your identity is never shared without your permission.
• Neutrality and Impartiality. We do not take sides in a dispute. Healthcare Resolutions aims to achieve the best possible outcome for all.
• Independence. We operate across all levels of the MTF and will address any party about issues needing their attention.
• Informality. We use candid and direct problem-solving processes to resolve disputes. Using the Healthcare Resolutions Program does not limit your right to pursue formal processes.

How does the Healthcare Resolutions Program help resolve issues?

• Conducts informal fact-finding, facilitates open communication between parties, and offers fair and equitable solutions
• Communicates with patients and providers about quality of care issues; may enable mediation sessions with patients and providers
• Analyzes the situation, explores issues and concerns, and suggests solutions, while ensuring that parties understand options and the processes involved
• In some cases, the MTF leadership is informed about developing issues, while staying confidential and neutral

Who can use the Healthcare Resolutions Program?

If you have a quality of care concern, we urge you to first discuss the issue with the staff member or clinical area at your military treatment facility. Many times, concerns can be addressed immediately. 

The Healthcare Resolutions Program is available to all patients, beneficiaries, next of kin, and health care personnel assigned to the facility. We accept referrals from any beneficiary or staff member having clinically complex patient care issues. 

When and how should I contact Healthcare Resolutions?

When you need to privately discuss an issue or conflict that affects your care at the hospital. Mediation may be offered to address and resolve concerns. For more information or to make an appointment, call 571-231-1455.

NOTE: The Special Assistant for Healthcare Resolutions is not the Military Family Ombudsman or any other “ombudsman” position in the command. Healthcare Resolutions does not address workplace or Workers' Compensation issues. Healthcare Resolutions services are free of charge.

The Special Assistant for Healthcare Resolutions advocates for fair processes for all participants in all situations, and serves as a special assistant to the commander and deputy commander.