SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 20th Medical Group here will be closed Feb. 3–6 to facilitate the move to their new facility and equipment testing.
The new facility will open to patients Feb. 7.
“We will offer the same services in the new facility that we currently provide, to include family health, women's health, mental health, physical therapy, optometry, pharmacy, laboratory and radiology,” said Lt. Col. James Ulrich, 20th MDG administrator. “The current facility was originally an inpatient hospital, so its design and function do not match our current requirements. The new building was designed to provide better patient flow, an improved care experience and increased energy savings.”
Several offices once located in outlying buildings will be consolidated into the new clinic, including pediatrics, flight medicine, bioenvironmental, public health, and TRICARE administration. The dental and veterinary clinics will remain in their current locations.
"The bioenvironmental engineering staff is very excited to move to the new, state-of-the-art medical facility,” said Maj. Alfred Doby, 20th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering flight commander. “The move will place the majority of our support services under one roof while enhancing logistics, resource availability, emergency response capabilities, training, customer satisfaction and the overall customer experience."
The new building is clearly marked and designed to make patient flow easier, said Ulrich. Staff members will be available to assist patients with finding their way around during the initial weeks, as well as an information desk and an interactive tool that can be used with smart phones.
The roundabout in front of the new facility can be used to drop off patients, though patients will continue to park in the current lots.
There is a second phase of the project, anticipated to begin late spring, which includes tearing down the old facility and expanding the parking lots, said Ulrich.
If a patient requires care during times when the 20th MDG is closed, they can call the Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-847-2273. In case of emergencies which threaten life, limb or eyesight, they should call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room.
For quick reference, here are the Frequently Asked Questions about the new medical facility:
1. When will the Medical Group move into the new facility? We are scheduled to move Feb. 3-6. The clinic, to include the satellite pharmacy at the Base Exchange, will be closed on Friday, Feb. 3, and Monday, Feb. 6, to accommodate the move and equipment testing.
2. What should patients do if they need care on Feb. 3-6? Similar to how we operate on weekends, patients can call the Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-847-2273 to speak to a nurse about their issue. In case of an emergency, they should call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room.
3. When will the clinic be open for business? We will start seeing patients in the new facility on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
4. How will I know where to go for my appointment? Sections in the new clinic are clearly marked and the building is designed to make patient flow easier. There is also an information desk when patients walk in and an interactive way-finding tool that patients can utilize in coordination with their smart phones. During the initial few weeks we will also have staff members present to assist patients with directions.
5. Will there be any change in services offered in the new clinic? No. The MDG will continue to provide the same services to our patients. The primary difference is that the new facility allows us to modernize the location where we provide care.
6. Which services will move from outlying buildings into the new facility? The new facility allows us to bring pediatrics, flight medicine, bioenvironmental, public health, and TRICARE administration into the same building as our other services. This should make visiting the 20th MDG easier and faster for our patients.
7. Will the Dental Clinic remain in its current building? Yes. The Dental Squadron will continue to provide services in their current facility.
8. Where will patients park? Patients will continue to park in the lots they currently use. They can use the roundabout in front of the clinic to drop off patients. There will also be designated handicap parking spots. The second phase of the project includes tearing down the current facility and building a new parking lot in its place. We anticipate that portion to take approximately 15 months to complete and should begin in late spring of 2017.
9. Is it possible to visit the new facility before I have an appointment? Yes. Once we are operating in the new facility, we intend to host an open house where patients can come in and get a tour of the clinic.