Out in front

Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Lee E. Payne, Air Force Medical Operations Agency commander, poses with members of the 47th Medical Group on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 15, 2015. Payne is responsible for leading consultative support of 75 military treatment facilities, over 44,000 personnel and with a $5.9 billion budget, ensuring a cost-effective, modern and prevention-based healthcare continuum for 2.6 million beneficiaries worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Steven R. Doty)(Released)

Office call

From left, Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Lee E. Payne, Air Force Medical Operations Agency commander, Col. Darrell Judy, 47th Flying Training Wing vice commander, and Col. Mike Patronis, 47th Medical Group commander, conduct an office call on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 15, 2015. Laughlin Air Force Base hosted the commander of AFMOA to provide an in-depth look into its mission and to offer an opportunity to interact with the Airmen of the 47th Medical Group Oct. 14-15. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Steven R. Doty)(Released)

Connecting with the Airmen

Airman 1st Class Mychaela Cammack, 47th Medical Operations Squadron pediatrics technician, bottom left, briefs Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Lee E. Payne, Air Force Medical Operations Agency commander, at the 47th Medical Group Clinic on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 15, 2015. The pediatrics clinic was one of twelve units Payne visited during his visit to Laughlin to gain a better perspective of the mission and challenges faced by the unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Steven R. Doty)(Released)

Mission brief

Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Lee E. Payne, Air Force Medical Operations Agency commander, receives a wing mission brief in the 47th Medical Group Clinic on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 15, 2015. The 47th Medical Group is Laughlin Air Force Base's outpatient clinic providing primary and specialty care for Tricare beneficiaries in a patient centered medical home with a mission to deliver excellent health services to improve the health, readiness, and safety of the clinics customers and employees. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Steven R. Doty)(Released)

AFMOA Commander visits Laughlin, delivers key messages

Published Oct. 19, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Steven R. Doty
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Laughlin Air Force Base hosted the commander of Air Force Medical Operations Agency to provide an in-depth look into its mission and to offer an opportunity to interact with the Airmen of the 47th Medical Group Oct. 14-15.

The visit allowed Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Lee E. Payne to provide insights into the way ahead for the Air Force Medical Services and to present the many challenges he plans to confront during his tenure as the AFMOA commander.

During the medical group's all call he said that 80 percent of what AFMOA does is dedicated to taking care of Airmen who provide medical care to other Airmen.

"It's our job to balance resources and provide you the quality resources and sustained support that allows you to get the job done here at Laughlin," he said.

Payne emphasized the themes of the Air Force Medical Services and how capitalizing on "Trusted Care" would be a pivotal transition into establishing a high-reliability organization.This "team approach to healthcare" will inspire safe, high quality care.

Payne met with Airmen across the clinic to include bioenvironmental, dental and family health. During the visits, he observed how the Airmen provide medical care for Laughlin Airmen to ensure the unique mission of the wing is accomplished.

"First and foremost, we wanted him to meet our Airmen and for our Airmen to see our leadership at the very top," said Col. Mike Patronis, 47th Medical Group commander. "This was our opportunity to showcase our ability to provide world-class medical care within the policies and guidance provided by the general's staff."

Payne concluded his visit by emphasizing the role medical services play in the Air Force mission and how Laughlin's contributions were a dynamic attribute to the success of those operations.

"We have had more than 15 years of conflict, we have the lowest died-to-wounds rate in the history of warfare, the lowest disease non-battle injury, and we have moved thousands and thousands of patients safely, and nobody can do that like the United States Air Force," said Payne. "You're part of the team that makes that happen."

Payne is responsible for leading consultative support of 75 military treatment facilities, over 44,000 personnel and with a $5.9 billion budget, ensuring a cost-effective, modern and prevention-based healthcare continuum for 2.6 million beneficiaries worldwide.