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Thunderbolt NEWS Jan. 15, 2016 7
http://www.luke.af.mil Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
‘No-shows’ affect mission, everyone +DQGOHUFHOHEUDWHVZLWK0:'V«
by Senior Airman “We had to send about 5,600 patients Senior Airman Devante Williams
DEVANTE WILLIAMS off-base this year due to lack of appoint-
ment availability,” Chavez said. “Hav- 6WDII6JW-HVVLFD.HOOHUWK6HFXULW\)RUFHV6TXDGURQ0LOLWDU\:RUNLQJ'RJKDQGOHU
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ing to send patients off-base cost MDG UXQVDQH[HUFLVHZLWK5DQJRDQG&KUDFKWK6)60:'V'HFDW/XNH$LU
approximately $1 million in purchased- )RUFH%DVH.HOOHUZDVSURPRWHGWKURXJKWKHVWULSHVIRUH[FHSWLRQDOSHUIRUPHUVSUR-
The 56th Medical Group provides care cost. The more no-shows we have, JUDPDQGFHOHEUDWHGE\GRLQJRQHRIKHUIDYRULWHWKLQJV²WUDLQLQJZLWKWKH0:'V
medical care to more than 90,000 the more resources we lose.”
members (active-duty, retirees and
their families) in the immediate area. The MDG provides an environment
Some people miss scheduled appoint- in which Airmen can receive qual-
ments and don’t think it affects anyone, ity care and assistance from doctors
but it takes a huge chunk of resources who know what the Airmen are going
from MDG. through.
Patients who fail to show up for their “Our goal is to ensure Airmen on
medical appointments cost real time base are ready for deployment,” said
and money and prevent other patients Master Sgt. Netha Manby, 56th Dental
from securing the appointments they Squadron Clinical Flight chief. “No
need. one knows our patients better than we
do. The relationship we have with the
“The cost of an appointment on the Airmen is strong, and we want to keep
medical side is about $400,” said An- it that way.”
nissa Chavez, 56th MDG group practice
manager. To keep Airmen mission-ready and
other beneficiaries healthy, the 56th
That can add up. For units in the MDG has implemented a two-hour can-
MDG, it can cost more than just money. cellation policy for all medical appoint-
ments. By cancelling your appointment
“We had 6,346 no-shows in fiscal 2015 at least two hours in advance, medical
costing up to $2.5 million in wasted units are able to provide needed health-
resources,” Chavez said. “When people care to other beneficiaries by rebook-
don’t show up for their appointments, ing the vacated slot. In addition, with
all the resources and materials go to cancelling appointments ahead of time,
waste.” the resources can be saved and put to
use for another patient.
Often, when there are no appoint-
ments available, a beneficiary with an To reschedule or cancel an appoint-
urgent medical issue is forced to seek ment, call 623-856-CARE (2273), in-
care off base, causing them to take more cluding during nonduty hours.
time away from their unit and impact-
ing patient-provider continuity.
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ATTORNEY
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