Twitter
Facebook
The speed of providing medical care has saved the lives of countless Soldiers injured in Afghanistan and Iraq. A less visible, but vital aspect of that care is the delivery of medical information.
Recognizing his efforts in expanding that capability, Maj. Daniel Bridon has been named the 2010 U.S. Army Medical Department Mercury Award for Information Management/Information Technology Professional of the Year.
The Mercury Award recognizes significant accomplishments and demonstrated outstanding excellence and achievement in IM/IT. The award’s name is a reflection on Task Force Mercury, a major effort that significantly reengineered IM/IT management and processes in the AMEDD.
Major Bridon, who is the chief information officer for Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, was cited for his impact while deployed to Afghanistan last year while still assigned as the health information systems and communications officer for 30th Medical Command.
The 36-year-old native of Buffalo, N.Y., was the first MEDCOM communications officer to take responsibility for the entire joint medical IT footprint in Operation Enduring Freedom during a period of rapid expansion of medical forces in Afghanistan.
He spearheaded the single greatest expansion of health information systems and medical communications in OEF history, significantly improving combat casualty care across Combined Joint Operational Area — Afghanistan.
His leadership and vision was cited for ensuring the rapid growth of proper inpatient and outpatient electronic medical records use. By the end of his deployment, electronic encounters entered into the system had increased by more than 500 percent from the previous year.
In addition, Major Bridon directed the OEF expansion and support of new Joint Tele-Medicine Network Very Small Aperture Terminal Systems to more than 20 sites spread across Afghanistan in every region.
During his eight months at LRMC, Major Bridon has served as chief information officer for LRMC and seven Army health clinics/centers in Belgium, Germany and Italy, leading an IT workforce of approximately 70 employees across Europe. It’s a job he finds great pleasure in, he said.
“I am driven by the knowledge that technology can make providers of health care more efficient and effective in their treatment of wounded warriors, and we can capture every health care episode for the benefit of the service member, whether on active duty, transitioning back to the Reserves, or moving to well-deserved continuing medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Major Bridon said.
For a job that already provides personal and professional rewards, wining the Mercury Award is icing on the cake.
“The Mercury Award is quite an honor. It is most indicative of the teams I have had the honor and pleasure of leading, both in Afghanistan with the 30th Medical Command, and here at ‘The Prism of Joint Medical Care,’ Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Those stellar performers and teammates are the reason I am holding the award today,” he said.
