30th MDG set to kick-off open house
By Senior Airman Shane M. Phipps, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs
/ Published January 21, 2016
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 30th Medical Group will host an informational open house, here, Jan. 28 from 5 to 7 p.m.
With the slogan "the 30th Medical Group, where your health is our mission", the open house aims to connect patients and providers in an informal and relaxed environment.
"As part of our commitment to the Air Force Medical Home model, we would like to take this opportunity to demonstrate to our current and potential beneficiaries that they are the center of their health care experience," said Capt. Matthew Freeman, 30th Medical Operations Squadron bioenvironmental engineering flight commander. "We want to show our patient population that they can receive gold standard care when they need it from both our Primary Care Managers and our robust network of specialists."
As well as speaking with providers, patients have the opportunity to learn about a variety of different services provided by the clinic.
"This event gives eligible patients, considering enrolling in the clinic, the opportunity to come in and meet Team V's providers -- as well as network specialists from the community," said 1st Lt. Anna Lain, 30th MDG TRICARE Operations and Patient Administration flight commander. "United Healthcare reps will be onsite to answer questions about benefits and enroll patients on the spot. The 30th MDG offers wonderful health and wellness programs to beneficiaries, that some may not realize we have, and I think patients will be delighted to learn of the opportunities available to them at the clinic."
Additionally, patrons who have been referred to medical services off base will be able to better understand the careful coordination between on-base providers and their off base counterparts.
"During this open house we are attempting to welcome back some of those patients who have been given Primary Care Managers off base," said1st Lt. Paul Herrera-Ramirez, 30th MDOS physician assistant. "We want to demonstrate how we can meet their medical needs and how closely we work with our off base specialists to provide the best patient centered medical care. We have a very good working relationship with our network providers. From providers, nurses and support staff, we have an open two-way communication -- all to benefit members of Team V, dependents and retirees."
With transparency in mind, event coordinators encourage all present and possible future patrons to take the opportunity to see first-hand what is offered to them.
"This event is meant to be very patient centered and we want to show both our current patients and prospective patients what is available to them," said Freeman. "Some of the sections that will be highlighted include, Family Health, Pediatrics, Space Missile Medicine, Diagnostics and Treatment, Health Promotions, the Exceptional Family Member Program, the Family Advocacy Program, Mental Health, Patient Advocacy and Patient Safety, Health Literacy, MiCare and United Healthcare."
Ensuring retirees are not forgotten is also a priority of the event, and those involved hope to emphasize the availability of services for them as well.
"We feel we have a unique opportunity to not only provide care for our active duty members and their families but also our retirees," said Herrera-Ramirez. "Retirees have paved the way to creating this great Air Force of ours. Many veterans, some going back as far as World War II, have expressed how comfortable they are in a military treatment facility because they feel they are among the same brotherhood and sisterhood from their active duty time. We are just here trying to welcome them back home."