Wright-Patterson Med Center takes its Health News Road Show back to AFIT

  • Published
  • By Mike Frangipange
  • 88 Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  A Wright-Patterson Medical Center team presented its Health News Road Show briefing to a new group of 2nd Lts. at the Air Force Institute of Technology recently. The briefing aimed at introducing the benefits and programs afforded through the health care programs here and is designed to establish a two way flow of information intended to build and maintain a strong working relationship between health care providers and patients.

The briefing began with an introduction by Col. Doug Wilson, 88 Dental Squadron commander. Included in the program were addresses by Ken Kirkland, Beneficiary Counselor, Mary Fairman, Health Care Integrator, and Crystal Kelly, Medical Management.

As Col. Wilson explained, "What we are trying to do through the Road Show is to get detailed information out to base personnel. Here at AFIT we have a lot of young students that have just come into the military and really don't know what care is authorized and how to utilize the military health care system to get it. Our goal," said Wilson, "is to give them some of that basic knowledge of how to navigate the system in order to get the care they need for themselves and their families."

Reflecting on the morning's briefing, Wilson concluded, "I think it went very well here. We had some very good questions."

Confirmation of that assessment came from the students themselves. For instance, 2nd Lt. William Stanton, an engineering student at AFIT, said, "I thought the briefing answered a lot of the questions that I have had. When we went through initial in-processing information just came flying at us. This morning's briefing was a better forum to get any of the outstanding questions answered about how the medical care system works."

Stanton's assessment was supported by 2nd Lt. Amber Scott, also an engineering student, who added, "I thought it was really informative. I think it is really great that they are willing to come out here and teach us about it, taking time out of their day."

In all it was a very productive morning for the Medical Center's Health News Road Show briefing team. Over the past year or so the briefing has been presented to Commander's Calls, to the First Sergeants Group, to the Chief's Group, and to about 120 second lieutenants at AFIT.

If you would like to schedule a "tailored to your needs" Health News Road Show for your unit please call (937)257-9133 or (937)257-9906.