WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - The 88th Medical Group hosted Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, director, Defense Health Agency (DHA), and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Gragg, senior enlisted leader, DHA, for a town hall and tour at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center, April 12.
During the town hall, Place reminded the audience that the Department of Defense exists to protect the American way of life and as a military health system, “we are that supporting organization that helps the warfighter protect that way of life.”
“In the healthcare community, our focus is on that warfighter or on that warfighter’s family,” said Place. “Obtaining and maintaining your skillset and keeping the readiness of the medical force is our job.”
During his visit, Place met with the hospital administrator Col. Joyce Beaty and Air Force Materiel Command medical service functional manager Chief Master Sgt. Melanie Collins.
Collins said Place and Gragg’s visit offered a great opportunity to “showcase our medics, learn more about DHA and MHS GENESIS” while allowing 88 MDG members to ask questions about the current transition and future.
“They were honest and transparent, which I feel is important in order to understand where we are moving toward as a unified medical force,” she said.
MHS GENESIS is the Military Health System’s new electronic health record. When fully deployed at Wright-Patterson Medical Center in 2023, it will provide a single health record for service members, veterans and their families.
Place visited the Cancer Care Center, Pediatric Clinic, Medical Information Systems Flight and Kittyhawk Pharmacy, speaking with Airmen regarding operations within their departments. He also spent time with staff members on the evening shift, including the Emergency Department, inpatients units and surgical suites, where personnel were able to speak one-on-one with the director and ask questions about DHA process improvements.
“It was an honor to host Lt. Gen. Place and CSM Gragg here at Wright-Patterson,” said Lt. Col. Benjamin Crandall, chief of pharmacy operations. “Our team greatly benefited from their willingness to provide clear information about how we fit into the transformation that the Military Health System is undertaking, and we loved the opportunity to showcase our ‘Mighty Medics’ and the amazing work that they do each day.”
Place said DHA’s mission is clear.
“We are thinking about saving lives, the American way of life, what we are doing for them, how we are keeping ourselves ready. Are we listening to them as leaders? Are we making sure we are setting the conditions that people feel fulfilled in what they do?” said Place. “That is the mission of the Defense Health Agency.”
The Defense Health Agency is a joint, integrated combat support agency that enables the Army, Navy and Air Force medical services to provide a medically ready force and ready medical force to combatant commands in both peacetime and wartime. DHA uses the principles of Ready Reliable Care to advance high-reliability practices across the Military Health System by improving system operations, driving innovative solutions and cultivating a culture of safety.
Military treatment facilities worldwide, including Wright-Patterson Medical Center with the Stand-Alone market structure establishment in 2021, have been transitioning under DHA authority. In support of the Military Health System and DHA priority to provide access and high-quality care to all beneficiaries, the 88th Medical Group has begun the implementation process for MHS GENESIS.
The MHS GENESIS Patient Portal, replacing TRICARE Online, is a secure website for 24/7 access to health information, including managing appointments and exchanging messages with your care team.