AFMC recognizes Hanscom clinic Published Dec. 12, 2012 By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Foster 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Hanscom dental clinic, the TRICARE Operations and Information Systems Flight, as well as five individuals from the 66th Medical Squadron racked up honors from the Air Force Materiel Command Medical Service Awards. The Air Force Medical Service Awards program encompasses 81 individual and team awards. The awards recognize outstanding actions, initiatives, superior job performance, innovative operations and exceptional teamwork while improving the delivery of health care at home as well as the ability to support joint medical operations through deployment. Although the competition was tough, Hanscom proved to have some of the best personnel in AFMC. Col. Frank Glenn, 66th Medical Squadron commander, explained how proud he was of his medical team. "We have an amazing team and I couldn't be more proud to serve with them," he said. "They consistently go above and beyond to ensure that Team Hanscom has the very best medical care possible." 66 MDS Dental Flight, Small Dental Clinic of the Year For the fifth year in a row, the dental clinic received a 100 percent satisfaction rating and achieved a 99.9 percent clinic appointment utilization process. The clinic also saved the Air Force $57,000 by installing an in-lab milling unit, allowing them to alleviate out-sourcing by 60 percent and prepare 104 crowns in-house. 66th Medical Squadron, Outstanding Health Plan Management Team Award The TRICARE Operations and Information Systems Flight spearheaded centralized patient check-in that organized five areas into one, saving numerous man hours and $42,000. They also managed 27,000 medical records with more than 99 percent accountability. As avid volunteers, they spent 99 hours mentoring 63 youth during Girl Scouts, coaching sports teams and in homeless shelters. Senior Airman Dennis A. Cooke, Outstanding Mental Health Airman of the Year Cooke won the award for managing $35,000 worth of equipment and thriving with only 33 percent staffing. He earned senior airman below-the-zone and was selected for staff sergeant during his first time testing for promotion. He also coordinated with five agencies to conduct a comprehensive building duress safety training that ensured 100 percent of personnel were trained with zero mishaps. Furthermore, Cooke identified and counseled four suicidal patients through live triage and directed emergent response with no lives lost. Capt. Joshua M. Elston, USAF Biomedical Specialist Category I Officer of the Year - CGO As the Diagnostics and Therapeutics Flight commander, Elston was recognized for being a superb officer with top-notch job performance and contributions to the Air Force medical mission. He was the medical squadron's Sijan Award winner and led a customer service focus group that slashed wait times by 25 percent and raised patient satisfaction to 99 percent. Capt. Mark R. Stevenson, Clinical Dentist of the Year As the dental emergency officer in charge, Stevenson was the No. 1 requested dentist and led to the clinic receiving the AFMC No. 1 rating in patient satisfaction. He also partnered with an Army veterinarian to treat two military working dogs to allow one to return to duty after deployment and one to deploy. Gail M. Murray, Air Force Medical Service Civilian Leadership Award Murray was recognized for her exceptional attention to detail and earned the number one spot for most on-time enlistd performance reports, officer performance reports and decorations in the 66th Air Base Group. She also orchestrated the successful outreach of the medical squadron with local hospitals and was the sole point of contact for direct health care concerns and questions for the New England medical hub, which includes 125,000 beneficiaries. Janet H. Larsen, Outstanding Civilian of the Year Larsen was recognized by the air base group commander as the role model for resource advisors and judiciously managed a $280,000 staff and medical travel program. She also volunteered at a crisis intervention center, providing education, support and assistance to give victims alternatives. She served as a key spouse and provided deployers and their families peace of mind.