TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- As days go by for service members here at Tyndall, life may very well throw them challenges. These challenges can be mental, physical or a combination of both.
The professionals at the 325th Medical Operations Squadron work tirelessly to accommodate Tyndall community members seeking relief from the tensions of military life.
Consisting of four flights and several subdivisions, each section of the MDOS is responsible for tackling all four prescribed pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness for Airmen and their families.
Just as the Air Force is made up of Airmen from various walks of life, so are the people of the 325th MDOS; each Airman receiving skills in their respective fields and using them to assist others in coping.
The mental health flight is an example of this concept, promoting programs and systems that offer services to Airmen and families. These include individual and family therapy, drug and alcohol assessment and treatment, and specialty services for families managing issues related to domestic abuse or violence.
“All elements in our facility offer daily therapy services as well as prevention and education sessions, custom Commander's Calls, and special outreach events,” said Maj. Shannon Branlund, 325th MDOS Mental Health Flight Commander.
Within the mental health flight is the family advocacy element and Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Treatment program.
Additionally, the family Advocacy Element offers support to new parents and families, Branlund added.
The Mental Health team offers multifaceted services including nursing, social work, psychology, psychiatry, drug & alcohol counselors, domestic abuse victim advocacy, and specialty program management.
“While many Airmen and families may believe these services are command referred or ‘mandated,”’ Branlund said, “All assistance programs can be provided to clients seeking voluntary services, and self-help is encouraged. These programs are not punitive and can assist clients in personal and professional development.”
During high-ops tempo events, the flight provides custom unit responses under the Disaster Mental Health program. They also work closely with base agencies such as the Sexual Assault Response Center, the Chapel, and the Airman and Family Readiness Center.
Working in conjunction with the mental health flight is the physical therapy flight. This is where trained professionals perform exercises for patients recuperating from ailments such as back pain, tightness or other discomforts.
“The mission of the physical therapy flight is to assure maximum readiness and provide trusted quality care to achieve optimal health for all our patients,” said Lt. Col. Brian Katen, 325th MDOS physical therapy flight commander. “This is done through the achievement of two objectives. Assuring all physical therapy staff is trained and ready to function in all readiness operations including wartime contingencies, disasters and peacetime operations. And to provide the most customer-centered, cost effective, safest, and highest standard of PT services possible to our beneficiary population.”
Daily tasks for the physical therapy flight consists of providing neuromusculoskeletal evaluations, orthopedic injuries treatment to restore function, improve body mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit physical impairment resulting from injury, disease, or pre-existing conditions.
The majority of cases seen by personnel of the physical therapy flight are sports and orthopedic related cases, Katen said.
When not treating patients for pain, personnel are recording data in patient medical records including military electronic medical records. The data collected may be used in monthly training exercises in or as a reference for patients with unique conditions.
Personnel are also required to be current with their training before conducting therapy procedures.
“Our training is based on a culture of safety and a goal of ‘Zero Harm’ to our patients which is derived from the Air Force Medical System ‘Trusted Care’ model as well as the National Patient Safety Goals,” Katen said. “We train to acknowledge that we have the right patient, at the right time, for the right treatment.”
When not being seen by the physical therapy flight, Airmen or their dependents may find themselves heading towards the maternal child flight within the 325th MDOS.
This flight contains the immunizations clinic, pediatric clinic, ambulance services, family health clinic each with their own key roles to excel in and following the effort of taking care of Airmen and families.
“The immunization clinic’s overall mission is to ensure that the men and women of 325th Fighter Wing and its associate units are immunized and worldwide qualified,” said Senior Airman Colin Mullaly, 325th MDOS allergy immunizations technician. “Making sure that vaccines and allergy extracts have not expired is one of our daily tasks. When not checking dates we’re also performing walk-in appointments.”
One of the flight’s most critical times of operation is flu season.
“Flu season is a very important season not just the Team Tyndall and the Air Force but all of DoD,” Mullaly said. “The Surgeon General of the Air Force gives each base a date to have the majority of the active duty population vaccinated. This requires hundreds of man hours prepping, meeting and ordering the vaccines. The next step of this process is to vaccinate.
During this time, people may become more susceptible to the illness.
“In the past, shot lines have been developed at the personnel deployment function line as well as at the 325th Fighter Wing building and the Air Force Civil Engineer Center,” Mullaly said. These shot lines are for rapid immunization of large quantities that streamline vaccinations for the population. Once flu season is over, the planning for the next season begins.”
On the other spectrum of operations, but not entirely different from the other offices is the pediatric flight. Here is where all children from 0-18 years of age are treated for any ailments that may afflict them.
“The overall mission of the Tyndall Pediatric Clinic is to provide a patient-centered medical home and unmatched trusted care to the dependents of the men and women of the 325th Fighter Wing and its associate units,” said Staff Sgt. Lisette Wright, 325th MDOS Pediatric Clinic NCO in-charge.
To assist with the pediatric procedures used to treat children and adolescents, the clinic hosts a quarterly town hall-style forum called “Dr. Mom.” During this event, a pediatrician will answer questions and concerns from the attendees, Wright said.
“The end of summer is definitely the busiest time for the Pediatric Clinic,” Wright said. “It is at this time of year when everyone is scrambling to get their school and sports physicals completed. This influx of patients, plus the regular amount of well and acute patients, makes for a very busy time. We always encourage parents or guardians to schedule school and sport physicals early.”
In any case where there is an emergency which prevents a person from getting medical attention, the ambulance services office has teams of Airmen who work to mitigate such situations.
“The ambulance services department is designed to provide 24 hour emergency response,” said Staff Sgt. Sarah Mears, 325th MDOS ambulance services department NCO in-charge. “We ensure emergency care and transport for 36,000 beneficiaries to tertiary care. The ambulance services department also coordinates 911 calls with first response agencies.”
The Ambulance Service Department partners with the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department and the 325th Security Forces Squadron to provide 24/7 emergency medical response and support for everyone on Tyndall and provides first-responder support from the DuPont Bridge to Mexico Beach. They are responsible for responding to incidents for the entire base.
The ambulance services department’s mission is to support and provide expeditionary Airman to the Air Force while delivering trusted, quality care to achieve optimal health for all we serve, Mears added.
Last to be recognized is the family health clinic. It is here where service members, dependents and DoD employees receive routine check-ups and diagnoses to ailments.
“This flight is designed to deliver provider operational health and readiness for all military members and promote optimal clinical currency for the members of the team,” said Maj. Lucky Mulumba, 325th MDOS primary care flight commander.
As an all-encompassing unit, the 325th MDOS continues to take care of airmen and families in accordance with the commander’s line of effort.