Capt. Kevin Moore is commander of the Navy’s health care centers in Japan, South Korea and Guam. (David Carter / S&S)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Increasing deployments for health care workers shouldn’t affect patient service at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka and its branch clinics, its commander said at a hospital forum Thursday.
Capt. Kevin Moore, commander of the Navy’s health care centers in Japan, South Korea and Guam, said that about 10 percent of the hospital’s workers would be deployed in the next two to three months.
Normally, the hospital operates with about 5 percent of its personnel deployed.
"I know it will be a challenge … but we’re not anticipating any significant delay right now," Moore said.
The personnel shortage can be made up by adjusting schedules and by having staff work extra hours, he said.
The public will be notified if deployments affect general health care services, he said.
Health care workers assigned to temporary duty at Yokosuka also may help make up for the shortfall, Moore added.
However, Moore urged anyone planning elective surgery to schedule their appointments as soon as possible.
Moore spoke to the hospital’s board of directors and a sparse crowd as part of the hospital’s first Health Care Consumer Council meeting. He said more such meetings are planned, and that he hopes the public will attend and discuss any care-related issues.
