Clinic starts Family Health Initiative Sept. 20

  • Published
  • By Connie Hempel
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Patients will see a new way of doing things when it comes to the Family Health Clinic at the 17th Medical Group as the Air Force's Family Health Initiative (FHI), a program expected to increase both patient and clinic staff satisfaction, kicks into gear Sept. 20.

This is the second round of military treatment facilities throughout the Air Force transferring to FHI. The first round started in 2008 and so far, 13 MTFs are up and running with the FHI process. This year, 20 more will be added.

According to Maj. Jeremy Braswell, 17th Medical Support Squadron group practice manager, FHI solidifies the Air Force surgeon general's vision of how primary care at Air Force MTFs should be: a patient-centered medical home that's pleasing to patients and medical staff.

The initiative will not affect pediatrics or the student clinic, however, Goodfellow's Family Health Clinic, which serves more than 4,800 patients, will be restructured into two family health teams. Each team will have one family physician, one extender provider - either a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner or another physician - one nurse and five medical technicians.

Family members will be assigned to one of the teams which will help build a relationship that allows for greater, faster access to healthcare.

"Patients will always see their team's physician or extender, while the nurse and technicians provide additional continuity of care," Major Braswell said. "This allows the physician and the rest of the team to be familiar with the patient and his medical history. This will also help the patient be more at ease and less worried about seeing different doctors each time they make an appointment."

Although some team members may change due to deployments or an assignment to a new duty location, he said, there will always be a familiar face on the team to make appointments at the Clinic feel more like going to the family doctor.

As with any change, the major said there may be some unexpected quirks, but they will overcome them. Thankfully, with Goodfellow being in the second round of MTFs to convert to FHI, they will be able to use the lessons learned and best practice ideas from those who have already completed the transformation during the first round.