Who you gonna call?

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Quion Lowe
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs

The 49th Medical Group will be making walk-in sick call available to all non-flying, active duty members beginning, Aug. 1, 2019, at the clinic on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.

Patients will be seen on a first come, first serve basis at the Family Health front desk from 7:30-9:00 every morning.

In preparation the clinic has been phasing in the active duty sick call, making it available to certain groups at a time.

On July 1, 2019, sick call became available to members of the 635th Material Maintenance Group, the 49th Wing Staff Agencies and the 49 MDG.

Starting July 15, 2019, the 49th Maintenance Group will have access and July 29, 2019, it will be open to all other non-flying active-duty members. The date that flyers will have sick call services is yet to be determined.

According to Tech. Sgt. Jonathon Andrew, 49th MDG Operational Medicine flight chief, early trials have gone well.

“Doing the phased rollout has helped us adjust,” he said.  “We have made some minor adjustments administratively – when you call the appointment line and report certain symptoms, we are confident enough in the process to tell you to come to sick call and get treatment right away.”

This additional service is part of the change being made by the Defense Health Agency throughout the Department of Defense in an effort to improve military patient access, while increasing the medical readiness of the force.

“In my opinion, it's a very good change,” said Andrew. “Our patients will get in faster, and it gives providers more time to take care of other responsibilities since they have less appointments.”