DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The 436th Medical Group redesignated two medical squadrons to improve operational readiness for uniformed personnel June 28, 2019.
Upon witnessing initial success with Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, the Secretary of the Air Force directed an Air Force Medical Service reform effort, resulting in the redesignations at Dover AFB.
The redesignation of the 436th Medical Operations Squadron as the 436th Health Care Operations Squadron occurred in an official ceremony Friday morning. During the ceremony, Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, highlighted how the streamlined structure will improve care and readiness for beneficiaries.
“Today’s reorganization of our medical group enhances our ability to proactively manage Total Force medical care, thus improving personnel availability and rapidly restoring readiness, deployability and force lethality,” said Fowler. “Under this new construct, the Health Care Operations Squadron focus is to continue delivery of high-quality trusted care to those who have served before us and to the families that serve beside us.”
Under the new construct, the 436th HCOS will provide care to all non-active duty patients. Geographically, Pediatrics and Women’s Health will remain in the same location, and the Family Health Clinic will be on the first floor.
The 436th MDOS was part of the base’s history, lasting almost 27 years, and the MDOS lineage will carry over to the HCOS.
“Since its activation on October 1, 1992, the Airmen of the 436th Medical Operations Squadron delivered trusted care to 1,829,271 patients,” said Lt. Col. Lisa Palmer, 436th HCOS commander. “The squadron has had 14 commanders and just as many meritorious and outstanding unit awards. It has supported contingency operations in the form of deployments of our own medics while simultaneously providing medical support to our mission here at home.”
The Medical Group’s reorganization continued later in the day as the 436th Aerospace Medicine Squadron was redesignated as the 436th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron which will provide care for all active-duty service members on the third floor of the Medical Treatment Facility.
Due to the restructuring, many beneficiaries can expect to be assigned to a new Primary Care Manager. As PCM reassignments are completed, patients may be contacted to reschedule existing appointments with their new PCM.
Though squadron names have changed, the delivery of safe, high-quality care remains the 436th MDG’s number-one priority.