Medical squadron adjusts service model to accommodate one training assembly

  • Published
  • By By Senior Master Sgt. Luisita Jordan
  • 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Managing manning, resources, time and productivity has not been without its challenges this year. As the wing prepares to draw down from two unit training assemblies to one, many Airmen have questions about whether this can actually be done in a wing this size.

Well, the short answer is "yes". It's already working in many units across the reserve component, and while it is a daunting task, it is certainly an exciting time for the 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron.

The AMDS has two missions. During peacetime, our mission is to ensure that we support the more than 2,200 Citizen Airmen of the 514th Air Mobility Wing so they remain medically ready and deployable in case they are called upon. We service a wing that has constantly been in motion since Operation Southern Watch in the early 1990s. We also have a wartime mission. We train to be the best medically trained assets in support of wartime efforts, whether that means serving at home or abroad. With this in mind, the conversion to one UTA will radically change how we do business, not only because the customer demands it, but the mission demands it.
While units like the AMDS work to prepare for what lies ahead, many unit members have spent a great deal of time and consideration in revisiting and to some extent reinventing how we do business to better serve not only our external customer (the wing member), but also our internal customers (the unit member).

We have put our processes to the test--from eight-step problem solving process improvements to performing an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiative, more commonly known as AFSO21. We looked at outstanding units, benchmark programs, unit efficiency inspection crosstells, and perhaps the most effective tool of all, customer surveys.

We've hung it all out there for everyone to see, and yes, at times, it was painful, but I will be the first to admit that it was worth every second vested. We were able to enable changes to antiquated processes, have a more reliant use on available technology, and employ an all-hands-on-deck approach to patient care. All without sacrificing the standard of care and compliance pieces that are legally required.

Our model is simple. We will stagger appointment times for individual groups to maximize the number of personnel that can be seen in any one period.  Essentially, we will move from one "Cattle Call" clinic to four individualized clinics. Our main objective is to minimize the time that Airmen spend away from their unit because with less time to train, every minute counts.

We will also expand our footprint at the medical treatment facility, extending our use of shared space with our active-duty counterpart. This will help minimize the bottle neck of personnel who often have to wait for services. One major highlight of the new model is it places a significant amount of responsibility on the service members to become personally involved with their medical readiness. With the help of unit health monitors and through consistent education and training, service members will become their own best advocate. This serves a twofold benefit. By making information more available and accessible in areas like SharePoint, newcomers orientation, etc..., the service member can easily make immediate decisions about their readiness. Additionally, it empowers service members to plan ahead when they know they are going to deploy, attend schools, or participate in exercises.

Service members will be expected to be well informed and knowledgeable about what steps they need to accomplish for profiles, exams and even in- and out-processing. The key is to get all the information that will be available.

One practice that we feel will be particularly beneficial is the establishment of the fitness clinic. This area will be set up to address all profiling concerns in one location. It will open at 7:30 a.m. Like the other clinics, it will have a 20-minute show time. That means service members must sign in within 20 minutes of the clinic's opening, in this case, between 7:30-7:50 a.m. Those who don't arrive by that time will be sent back to the unit. Service members must also come prepared with adequate documentation.    

While we do anticipate having some growing pains, it is certainly not beyond our reach to improve services, minimize delays, and meet or exceed the expectations of our customers. We look forward to working with all our fellow wing members as we enter the new One UTA climate.