Vet clinic remodel: staying a step above the rest

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jayden Ford | Staff at the Little Rock Air Force Base Veterinary Clinic pose for a photo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, August 21, 2019. The veterinary clinic at Little Rock AFB underwent a major remodel and received substantial equipment upgrades to aid in providing the superior care people expect for their four-legged companions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)  

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, AR, UNITED STATES

08.23.2019

Story by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford 

19th Airlift Wing

For some the bond shared between humans and animals is considered one that is unbreakable. Many people tend to treat their pets as part of their family. When their pet gets sick, owners want to get receive the best medical attention available.
The veterinary clinic at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas underwent a major remodel and received substantial equipment upgrades to aid in providing the superior care that people expect for their four-legged companions.
As part of the renovations, which began in January, the clinic added an additional 635 square feet of space to expand their work area.
“We are working in a much bigger facility now,” said Arnetha Brooks, Little Rock AFB vet clinic veterinarian medical officer. “The extra space will boost our production allowing us to do multiple procedures at once.”
Upgraded equipment – such as tables capable of raising and lowering the animal and computers capable of bringing up x-rays directly in the exam room – allows the team to care for the animal faster than ever before.
“All these tools are things that we have had in the past, however, the older versions of those tools didn’t have the time-saving capability we now have,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Johnny Cohnes, Little Rock AFB vet clinic’s NCO in charge of veterinary services. “The diagnosis time has been cut virtually in half.”
The upgrades, which were celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, come as a morale boost to the office allowing them to perform at even higher levels than they were previously capable.
“We always practice the highest quality of medicine – it makes it so much easier when you have the newest equipment to use,” Brooks said.
With all of these changes, the team still strives to make customers feel welcomed and relieve their worries when they walk into the building.
“I treat every patient I have as if they are my own,” Brooks said. “I try my best to get to know our military members and their pets.”
The clinic feels a deep sense of pride in providing exceptional service to personal pets and military working dogs for approximately 100 Herk Nation Airmen a week.
“I think I have one of the most important missions in the military,” Cohnes said. “I help the pets of our military service members. Those pets help the mental resiliency of these service members who are out there helping people by doing their job every day.”

• Date Taken: 08.23.2019
• Date Posted: 08.26.2019 13:16
• Story ID: 337445
• Location: LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, AR, US