Clinic staff streamlines physical exams Published Jan. 17, 2008 By SrA. Ben Mota 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- The January unit training assembly marked the beginning for the 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron structural changes designed to reduce the amount of time it takes Airman to complete their physicals. Before the changes the average physical took four and a half hours to complete. With the changes, the amount of time it takes to complete a physical has been reduced to two hours. Several steps have been made to improve the flow of the process. One major task was to increase patient care while at the same time eliminating wasted time. The Air Force calculated that it can save $70,000 for every hour that was eliminated off of the cycle time for physicals. The 434th AMDS plans to further reduce the visit time down to one hour for most physicals. Each month a number of improvements will be added to increase patient flow. One of the many changes that occurred this month was the restructure of the immunization room. This will allow a greater amount of people to pass thru the process, eliminating wasted time. Although none of the changes are being done by adding people or machines some leadership roles and responsibilities have been shifted to better serve Airman. These include: Maj. Bill Bray designated chief of aerospace medicine, Lt. Col. Harold Bacchus designated chief of professional services, Maj. Erica Gault designated medical readiness officer, and Capt. Daniel Kennedy designated physical exam and standards officer and immunizations officer.
