Photo By Master Sgt. Darnell Cannady | Staff Sgt. Angel Lopez-Torres, dental assistant for the 379th Expeditionary Medical...... read more read more
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By Senior Airman Clinton Atkins
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 379th Expeditionary Medical Group is in the process of transitioning into an "enduring" facility, which will improve the efficiency, capability and capacity of patient care provided to deployed personnel.
The 16,000 square foot building will offer primary care, dental, physical therapy, immunizations, optometry, surgery, medical ward, intensive care unit, emergency room, radiology, laboratory and public health services.
"The increased space and consolidation of medical services under one roof will be more convenient for our patients," said Maj. Todd Osgood, 379 EMDG director of operations. "Almost every service will have a larger work space."
Once the new facility is fully operational, the 379 EMDG will be able to accommodate 10 in-patients and more than 100 out-patients per day simultaneously.
"The capacity will be about the same," he said. "But the new facility provides better quality for our patients and staff."
In addition to the extra space, each examination room will provide better privacy and will include a sink, which is beneficial for patient care and infection control, he said.
The new Intensive Care Unit and medical ward will have two showers. Also, the medical laboratory and X-ray will no longer have to be in International Standards Organization containers.
"The Inpatient Ward is better insulated and will provide a much quieter environment for patients," said Maj. Osgood. "Additionally, each bed will have a curtain, which will allow our patients to have better privacy and rest. Also, since we now have bathrooms located within the new facility our in-patients won't have to leave the building to shower anymore."
The $6.2 million facility will have better lighting throughout and the operating and emergency rooms will have an improved medical gas system.
"Since there is now more room and better lighting and more space in the new Emergency Room, physicians will be able to better assess and treat patients," he said.
The 379 EMDG plans to further the collocation effort. For now, mental health, bioenvironmental engineering, flight medicine, medical logistics and medical equipment repair will continue to be located in the Coalition Compound.
"Part of our long-term plan is to add additional buildings near the new medical group, which will allow us to continue to consolidate services," Maj. Osgood said.
Once optometry and computed tomography scan services are available in the first week of October, the 379 EMDG will have a total of 87 personnel supporting the warfighter.
While the 379 EMDG transitions into their new home, their main challenge is maintaining their quality of patient care.
"While moving, it is important we continue to provide 24-hour service to the base, and pre- and post-operative care for our wounded warriors," he said. "Running a 10-bed hospital, 24/7 with only 85 personnel is an enormous achievement. A similarly tasked facility in the Continental United States would have twice as many staff members. Adding facility relocation on top of a busy health care operation definitely requires careful planning and a lot of hard work."
In order to maintain their level of service, each section in the 379 EMDG must be moved in stages.
Parts of the sections must be moved to the new facility to reach operational capacity while still being able to take care of customers in the old facility, said Tech. Sgt. James Heim, medical equipment and repair and facility non-commissioned officer in charge.
"When their new section is up and running the rest of their equipment will be able to be moved all at once," he said.
More than 150 pieces of equipment, at approximately 50 tons and worth $4.5 million, must be moved from one facility to the next. Once moved, each piece of equipment has to be calibrated, repaired (if need be) and inspected.
More than 10 services will complete their relocation in less than two weeks. All medical services are expected to be fully transitioned by the end of the month.
379 EMDG personnel are eager to begin working in the new facility and patients will benefit from the improved environment, Major Osgood said.
"We believe our patients will notice an improved medical environment on par with the level of service they'd receive back at home," he said. "The medical group has stepped up to the challenge of providing a much more enduring presence. We couldn't have made this happen without the help from logistics, civil engineering, communications, contracting and the PMO office."
| Date Taken: | 08.22.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.23.2008 01:54 |
| Story ID: | 22785 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 382 |
| Downloads: | 147 |
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