Branch Health Clinic Oceana triad held a change of charge ceremony, July 13.

Cmdr. Carrie L. Dreyer relieved Cmdr. Elisabet Prieto as the office in charge (OIC) of the health care triad that includes Branch Health Clinic Oceana, the clinic's Dam Neck Annex, and TRICARE Prime Clinic Virginia Beach.

"A change of charge is where we formally pass authority and responsibility from one officer to another," said Capt. Christopher Culp, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth's commanding officer. "It serves as a punctuation point in the history of a command and its people."

"So as we pass the charge today from one officer to another, some things will change, but most won't," added Culp. "Particularly the quality the impact and the role these three clinics play in the lives of our Sailors, their families, and our command. That will never change."

Capt. Laurence J. Kuhn, Primary Care Branch Clinics director, was the guest speaker and he made note of the ceremony's date. "I'm not sure who decided on having a change of charge ceremony on a Friday the 13th, or who approved that," Kuhn said. "I figure if I can get through this speech without any catastrophes, then we're in good shape going forward."

Kuhn noted several of the accomplishments of the triad over the past three years. "Care was provided to more than 35,000 beneficiaries, 101,000 provider encounters a year, 42,000 blood draws, 11,000 radiology exams, and, of course, dispensing over a half million prescriptions on an annual basis," he said.

"In this short time frame, the triad also completed two major renovation projects to include a $1 million renovation of the Oceana pharmacy, and $1.7 million renovation of TRICARE Prime Clinic Virginia Beach," Kuhn added. "These two major endeavors were undertaken all without any interruption to services."

Prieto assumed the triad's OIC duties in August 2015, and she is transferring to Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point to serve as the Senior Nurse Executive.

"Our great people in our clinics, doing great things, managed to lead across the three services and the many defense health agency indicators. Leading from the beach," said Prieto. "Congratulations Commander Dreyer, I know that I leave the Oceana family in great hands. You will take Oceana to the next level, I know."

Dreyer assumes the OIC role after completing a tour as Medical Enlisted Detailing Branch head, Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tennessee. Her other duty stations have included Naval Medical Center San Diego, Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Naval Hospital Rota, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and she has deployed with USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) and USNS Comfort (T-AH-20).

"When you're not sure what decision to make, and there's no one else around, you will rarely - if ever - be wrong if you make a decision on behalf of the patient standing in front of you," said Dreyer. "Take care of the patient and each other. I look forward to getting to know you and serving with this team."

The Branch Health Clinic Oceana triad is part of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth umbrella of care for beneficiaries throughout the Hampton Roads area. NMCP is the U. S. Navy's oldest, continuously-operating hospital since 1830 and is a nationally acclaimed, state-of-the-art medical center, along with the area's branch and TRICARE Prime clinics. The medical center also supports premier research and teaching programs designed to prepare new doctors, nurses and hospital corpsmen for future roles in healing and wellness.


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