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Wright-Patterson Medical Center takes its Health News Briefing on the Road

  • Published
  • By Mike Frangipane
  • 88th AIR Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The Wright-Patterson Medical Center has launched a Health News Road Show, purposed to introduce various groups to the benefits and programs afforded them through the health care programs here.

The undertaking establishes a two-way flow of information and is intended to build and maintain a strong working relationship between health care providers and patients. The briefing has already been presented to the Commanders and First Sergeants Group, to the Chief's Group and to about 60 2nd lieutenants, who are students at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT).

The briefings afford an opportunity to introduce the audiences to medical center team members and to hear from them what services the center offers.

The briefings begin with an introduction from the commander of the 88th Medical Group, Col. (Dr.) Kimberly Slawinski. Included in the program are addresses by Ken Kirkland, beneficiary counselor; Mary Fairman, health care integrator, Crystal Kelly, medical management, and by Cindy Andersen, patient advocate.
 
Also included is the presentation of a medical specialty selected for its application to the particular audience being addressed. The presentation at the Air Force Institute of Technology) was geared to student 2nd lieutenants. Of particular interest to the lieutenants, many of whom intend to pursue pilot training, was the presentation by Lt. Col. (Dr.) Kurt W. Andreason, laser surgeon at the Wright-Patterson Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Center.

"It was a good opportunity to dispel misconceptions and to explain the benefits and availability of this procedure for the Warfighter," said Dr. Andreason.

Evaluating the benefits of the briefing to his students, Capt. Ryan W. Thomas, assistant professor at AFIT, said, "This will give the 2nd lieutenants information they will not usually get at their commissioning source. We are hoping that this will enable them to hit the ground running at their next assignment after graduation, as well enable them to access what is available here at Wright-Patterson."
 
"Based on the response today," he said, "the lieutenants have some idea of who to contact and where to get started in getting their medical needs met."

One of the attendees of the briefing, 2nd Lt. Jeffrey P. Massman added, "The fact that the briefing was geared to us and was not just a generic briefing made the entire experience more worthwhile."