95th MDG assesses future of health care

  • Published
  • By Col. Gale Skousen
  • 95th Medical Group
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 95th Medical Group is comprised of the 95th Medical Operations Squadron, 95th Aerospace Medicine Squadron and 95th Medical Support Squadrons. 

The 95th MDG's mission is to provide health services, support military readiness and maintain the health of the community. This is accomplished through focused delivery of healthcare and preventive medicine in an ambulatory setting. 

Led by Col. Clara Nielsen, 95th MDG commander, the clinic received an excellent score on the Air Force Health Services Inspection and a "fully compliant" rating from the civilian Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care in 2007. 

Several planned changes will significantly decrease the time required to accomplish many aspects of medical care while improving the flexibility of services available to the Edwards community. 

A major shift in medical profiling kicked off on Oct. 12. A new system places the responsibility for determining how duty-limiting conditions affect readiness on the member's commander. Profiles are now completed and routed directly to the commanders and first sergeants for signature and disposition to the member. 

Web-based preventive health assessments will be required by the beginning of 2008. Active-duty members will answer routine health questions on line prior to their physical health assessment appointments. This will expedite the process as well as make relevant health information easily accessible to the member through the Internet. 

The flight surgeons office is standing up laboratory and immunization services at building 3925. These services will be available to the base population, but are specifically targeted to active-duty personnel enrolled to the FSO, occupational health clients and deploying personnel. These services will save the base thousands of man hours every year by eliminating the 10-mile drive to the main clinic. 

Public Health will continue to see an increased emphasis on our wartime and disaster missions. With the high microbial load kit, public health can quickly and accurately determine food tampering. We expect new capabilities will be added to our arsenal in the coming years. 

The Aerospace Physiology section, in conjunction with the Marine Corps detachment here, is developing a joint, state-of-the-art night vision goggle training laboratory that will provide realistic night simulations in a variety of ambient lighting and terrain conditions. Initial and refresher NVG training will be offered to all Edwards personnel who require NVGs to accomplish their mission. 

Bioenvironmental Engineering has also begun the implementation of Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program. VPP is not another inspection. It is a targeted program that promotes worker safety through active employee involvement and leadership commitment. VPP participants develop and implement systems to effectively identify, evaluate, prevent and control occupational hazards to prevent employee injuries and illnesses. 

The 95th MDG will continue to provide excellent healthcare for our patients and to facilitate care in the civilian sector for those patients whose needs exceed the capability of the clinic.