22nd MDG hosts quarterly forum

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class John L. Linzmeier
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The 22nd Medical Group hosted a third quarter forum at the Robert J. Dole Community Center Ballroom Sept. 5, to raise awareness of medical operations on base.

The event was held to inform TRICARE beneficiaries about changes in the base clinic and allowed them to communicate their concerns and recommendations with medical group leadership.

Col. Charles Carlton, 22nd MDG commander and event host, opened the forum expressing his personal motto, "put your mom's face on it."

"I ask my Airmen to treat each patient as though that person was their mom," he said. 

He also talked about how the medical field has been shifting its direction over the last few decades.

"In the past, even in the medical service, you can come here ten times and see ten different providers," said Carlton. "If you went to another doctor each week, no one is going to truly understand what you need. We are trying to mandate it so that doctors stay with patients throughout their medical history."

Throughout the one hour forum, speakers from different squadrons announced some of the recent and ongoing changes in their departments.

Patients were encouraged to enroll in MiCare, a secure messaging service that enables patients to communicate with their health care providers. It can be used to make requests for new prescriptions, schedule appointments, view information such as lab results and more.

"It's a great benefit to our beneficiaries and provides a direct route to your primary care managers," said Lt. Col. Brenda Corrunker, 22nd Medical Support Squadron commander. "Take the opportunity to sign up; it is a very easy process."

Several of the speakers also urged the audience to take advantage of the referral office if they need an appointment outside of the medical group. Visiting the office can help patients schedule an appointment more efficiently, said Corrunker.

"This way you aren't playing phone tag or trying to contact your referral provider while trying to get an appointment," said Corrunker. "It could save you a week or two in the process. So please walk away with your referral appointment before you leave the facility."

Leadership announced that the 22nd MDG campus is now a tobacco free area and flu season is approaching. Within the next week, a shipment of flu vaccinations is anticipated to arrive.

Plans to distribute flu shots will be made quickly after their arrival. Active duty service members have priority for vaccinations followed by their family members, retirees and all other beneficiaries, said Carlton.

The forum came to a close after 10 minutes of Q-and-A between the audience and 22nd MDG leadership.

"I feel that patients need to have an active role in understanding the capabilities we have here," said Carlton. "The quarterly forum is an opportunity for us to get the word out to our patients about what's happening in the med group and gives them a platform to address some of their concerns."

For more information about the 22nd MDG, call (316) 759-6300, or visit www.mcconnell.af.mil/units/medicalservices.asp.