July 31, 2015 MHS leaders honored by American Hospital Association Two Military Health System (MHS) leaders were recognized recently by the American Hospital Association for their outstanding service to the health care field. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles Potter and Army Col. James D. Carrell received the honors during the recent American Hospital
July 27, 2015 AF Surgeon General Message to the AFMS Dear Air Force Medical Professionals: I am deeply honored to serve the Airmen and families of the world's best Air Force as the 22nd Air Force Surgeon General. I could not be more proud of the outstanding medical professionals with whom I serve--officers, enlisted and civilian Airmen--and those who
July 15, 2015 Family health clinic adds 1,000 appointments per month Through process improvements and increased efficiencies, 59th Medical Wing Group Practice Managers found a way to add 12,000 more appointment slots in a single clinic over the next year.One of the wing's busiest clinics, the Wilford Hall Family Health Clinic provides quality, patient-centered care
July 8, 2015 Photo Slideshow: Progress continues on new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center Construction continues on the new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The new WHASC, part of the 59th Medical Wing, is a $418 million, 682,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility that will replace the existing building. Serving more than 55,000, the
June 11, 2015 Air Force medical leader retires after 39 years During a ceremony filled with military tradition and reflection, the 21st surgeon general of the Air Force, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis, retired June 5 after 39 years of service.Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, officiated the ceremony where he stated that Lt. Gen. Travis has
May 6, 2015 Air Force, Veterans Administration team to care for veterans Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Thomas Travis, left, joins Jack Hetrick, Network Director for Veterans Integrated Service Network, VISN 10; Col. Tim Ballard, 88th Medical Group commander; and Col. John Devillier, Wright-Patterson AFB Installation Commander, during a signing ceremony May 1 at
May 4, 2015 MTFs establishing direct access physical therapy clinics The Air Force Medical Operations Agency has recently directed all Air Force Military Treatment Facilities to establish direct access physical therapy clinics for active duty members. The policy shift will now allow an active duty member with an acute musculoskeletal injury to make an appointment
April 29, 2015 Month of the Military Child - Pediatricians Serve as Important Resources for Parents It's not unusual to find Air Force Capt. Meredith Schuldt playing on the floor.As a pediatrician at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., she spends most of her day seeing patients ranging from newborns to teenagers. Playing with toys on the floor, she said, is a good way to communicate
April 28, 2015 Air Force, Army team up for Operation Joint Medic Independent duty medical technicians take cover and ready patients for medical evacuation during the Operation Joint Medic training exercise March 31, 2015, at Silver Flag Alpha range complex, Nevada. This inaugural exercise provided joint service training in preparation of full spectrum downrange
April 27, 2015 BMET father graduates BMET son Growing up, Christian Frizzell showed little interest in what his father, Chief Master Sgt. Charles Frizzell, did as a biomedical equipment technician (BMET) in the Air Force. Throughout high school Christian participated in Junior ROTC and knew he wanted to join the military or attend a service
April 22, 2015 59th MDOG commander talks 'Lean Daily Management' at UTSA Wilford Hall's 59th Medical Operations Group commander, Col. (Dr.) John Andrus, spoke of the importance of Lean Daily Management (LDM) to members attending a Continuous Improvement Professionals (CIP) meeting at the University of Texas San Antonio April 17.The monthly CIP meeting acts as a platform
April 17, 2015 VA opens claims office at Scott The Department of Veterans Affairs formally opened a new Compensation and Pension Clinic here April 10. Marking the first memorandum of agreement between the VA St. Louis Health Care System and Scott Air Force Base, the Compensation and Pension Clinic is located on the fifth floor of the Scott AFB
April 15, 2015 Air Force Surgeon General visits 79th Medical Wing Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Thomas Travis visited the 79th Medical Wing April 7 to engage with staff and recognize achievements of service members.During the tour, Travis viewed a Military Construction project, which is building a new Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center for a
April 15, 2015 Laboratory technicians: small numbers, large impact Tech. Sgt. Richard Minton said he never really understood the impact of being a medical laboratory technician in the Air Force until he deployed to Afghanistan in 2012.There, he experienced firsthand the importance of his craft while delivering blood to servicemembers receiving treatment for
April 14, 2015 AFMOA launches new, lean approach The Air Force Medical Operations Agency took a step toward creating a robust process improvement culture recently by implementing "Lean Management Rounds." Lean Management Rounds are an extension of the Air Force Problem Solving model and create a vehicle for senior leaders to speak with front-line
April 6, 2015 AFMS follows aviation lead to high reliability Over many years the Air Force aviation community's concept of high reliability has evolved from one of expected losses, to today's culture of safety where fatal losses rarely occur. Now, following in the footsteps of aviators and nuclear engineers, the Air Force Medical Service is adopting the
March 31, 2015 Air Force's updated policy further promotes tobacco-free environments The Air Force has led the military in advancing innovative tobacco control policies, such as the tobacco-free medical campus and prohibiting tobacco use outside "designated tobacco areas". Now, an updated Air Force Instruction, published in March, seeks to further reduce health impacts from smoking,
March 26, 2015 Operation PACIFIC ANGEL 15-3 spreads care in Vietnam The United States and Vietnam began humanitarian assistance operations here March 23 as part of Operation Pacific Angel 15-3.Entering its eighth year, PACANGEL ensures the region's militaries are prepared to work together to address humanitarian crises. Since 2007, PACANGEL operations have improved
March 17, 2015 87th MDG treats four-legged veteran It's not every day that you see a canine being treated by the 87th Medical Group, but that's exactly what happened at the radiology clinic on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Feb. 9, 2015.Brix, a drug patrol military working dog from Naval Weapon Station Earle, Colts Neck, New Jersey,
March 17, 2015 Air Force aims to improve health, performance With the goal to move from healthcare to health, the Air Force Medical Service has created a dynamic plan, which will transform health and human performance systems as they exist today. The Human Performance Concept of Operations, created by Air Force medical planners, strives to not only prevent or