Feb. 13, 2014 Electronic cigarette use increasing among Airmen Electronic cigarette use is becoming a popular alternative to traditional cigarettes, but the upward trend is becoming a concern for health care providers. The battery-operated products, known as e-cigarettes, are designed to deliver nicotine, flavor, and other chemicals as a vapor that is inhaled
Feb. 5, 2014 Air Force Medical Service announces new senior enlisted advisor The Air Force Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis, announced today that Chief Master Sgt. E. Jason Pace, Chief, Medical Enlisted Force, United States Forces in Europe (USAFE), will now take on the top AFMS-enlisted job in the United States Air Force.Chief Pace will assume the new
Jan. 31, 2014 Air Force Medical Service 2013 annual award winners announced It is with great pride that the Surgeon General's Medical Force Development Directorate announces the winners of the Air Force Medical Service Annual Award competition. The competition included individual and team awards, based on criteria outlined in AFI 36-2856, Medical Service Awards. The winners
Jan. 28, 2014 Military Health System leadership message - 100 days of the Defense Health Agency and reform We are 100 days into a multi-year period of significant change in how we manage and lead the Military Health System. We want to acknowledge the important changes that have already occurred, outline the major activities in the coming year that will demand our continued attention and discipline, and
Jan. 8, 2014 Air Force Medical Service seeks enlisted commissioning applicants for nurse corps Eligible active-duty enlisted Airmen interested in pursuing a nursing commission have until Feb. 28 to submit their intent to apply, Air Force Personnel Center officials said Jan. 7.The Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program offers eligible members with an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in
Jan. 6, 2014 The Jennifer Vaughan story: one Airman's comeback journey from near death There are words Staff Sgt. Jennifer Vaughan faintly remembers hearing from her family and fiancé as she slowly woke up Feb. 18, 2013 from a 62-day induced coma, but it was the look on their faces that made her understand that something was "very wrong."Unable to respond and comprehend the magnitude
Dec. 11, 2013 Hello, my baby: Delivery nurse brings own daughter into world "I love that sound," the mother said softly as nurses and technicians hovered over her newborn girl. "I love a crying baby." On a list of soothing sounds, a crying baby rarely ranks high for most people, but for Capt. Savannah Mendez, nothing is more reassuring."It means your baby is alive and
Nov. 26, 2013 Former Air Force Surgeon General passes away The Air Force Medical Service remembers retired Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Paul W. Myers, former Air Force Surgeon General, who passed away of natural causes on Nov. 25, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas.Myers was the 10th surgeon general and sworn in on Aug. 1,1978 until July 31, 1982. He officially retired on Dec.
Nov. 26, 2013 Former MTI’s road to recovery transformed tragedy into inspiration In the pitch blackness and pre-dawn stillness, his booming voice alone was enough to send several dozen new trainees into a frenzied scramble from the comfort of their bunks. His scowl was enough to keep those trainees frozen into a formation of stone figures.Tech. Sgt. Matthew Zien was one of those
Nov. 20, 2013 Eglin Hospital treats first dialysis patient When retired Lt. Col. Charles Wheelahan visited Dr. Bhagwan Dass, the 96th Medical Group's nephrologist, at Eglin Hospital on the morning of Oct. 28, they both knew something was wrong. Wheelahan was lethargic and short of breath, and according to Dass, it was clear he was not himself. After further
Nov. 20, 2013 Med group's 'Super Teams' to improve access to patient care The 78th Medical Group is the test base for the Air Force in finding a way to provide better patient care. Using Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield's 'People, Process and Resources' framework, the 78 MDG this month has taken the Patient-Centered Medical Home model and modified it from a previous five-team
Nov. 5, 2013 Military University Marks 20 Years of Graduate Nursing Education The Graduate School of Nursing at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences recognized an important milestone, 20 years of groundbreaking education, with an all-day celebration that included a dedication ceremony to honor the school's namesake, Daniel Inouye, Oct. 29.The event began
Oct. 30, 2013 Air Force medical facilities earn top honors from The Joint Commission Three Air Force Medical Service military treatment facilities (MTFs) earned top accreditation honors recently by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America, for exemplary performance and were named among the nation's Top Performers on Key Quality
Oct. 1, 2013 TRICARE issues statement about government shutdown On October 1, 2013, the Defense Health Agency issued the following statement:"We know that those who rely on the Military Health System (MHS) are concerned about how the government shutdown might impact their health care.While we can't predict the exact consequences of a shutdown on every part of
Sept. 30, 2013 Affordable Care Act will impact federal civilian employees Starting in January, all individuals must maintain minimum health care coverage for themselves and all dependents claimed on their federal tax return, or must qualify for an exemption. Those who do not will be charged a penalty beginning with their 2014 federal tax return.Under, the Patient
Sept. 26, 2013 Air Force Medical Support Agency welcomes new commander and 17th Biomedical Sciences Corps chief
Sept. 26, 2013 Airmen respond to downed helicopter, save two It started as any other training day for the crew of Jayhoon 11; however, the events of Sept. 7 proved to be a test of tactics, training and teamwork."Start up and taxi were uneventful," said Tech. Sgt. Matty Garcia, a 444th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron Mi-17 evaluator aerial gunner. "Upon
Sept. 26, 2013 Lieutenant beats cancer, selected to pilot Raptors For one new Air Force pilot, "living the dream" is much more than a cheap throwaway line. To 1st Lt. Rob Hansen of the 80th Flying Training Wing, "living" means surviving stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma. "The dream" means graduating at the top of his undergraduate pilot training class and earning a slot
Sept. 25, 2013 It’s that Time: Get your Flu Vaccine Each year, flu season affects millions of men, women and children. Flu season usually begins in October, so now is a great time to protect yourself and your family from the flu by getting vaccinated. The flu shot is easy to get and inexpensive - often free - for TRICARE beneficiaries and this year
Sept. 24, 2013 Texas mass casualty exercise tests military, civilian first responders Joint Base San Antonio alongside San Antonio's rescuers and hospitals, joined forces to handle two simulated disasters during a San Antonio mass casualty exercise, Sept.19.The Air Force Reserve Command's 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, from JB San Antonio-Lackland, and the 53rd Weather