Wyvern Warrior Team of the Week: 31st MDG Medical Management

Courtesy Photo | AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy—This week’s Wyvern Warrior Team of the Week is the 31st Medical Group Medical Management section! This team provides Wyvern Nation comprehensive and coordinated medical care to Aviano families as well as community support, medical and educational services. “One of our main priorities is outreach,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Kristin Dela Cruz, 31st MDG disease manager. “It’s hard to spread all the information individuals should know. We want to help educate patients to what’s offered on base and we have so many resources available.” This team is comprised of seven medical professionals from five different sections: U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Emily Rougier, 31st MDG psychologist, U.S. Air Force Maj. Anna Halter, 31st MDG health care integrator, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy Walker, 31st Health Care Operations Squadron family member relocation care coordinator, Brooke Chambers, 31st MDG utilization manager, Regina Mini, 31st MDG case manager, U.S. Air Force Capt. Brandon Solomon, 31st MDG group practice manager, and Dela Cruz. Over the past six months, this team oversaw 18 casualty status cases and averaged 120 monthly Emergency Room follow-ups and critical aeromedical evacuations all while maintaining a 95% 24-hour contact rate. Over the past quarter, the team instituted a process improvement that recuperated 31% of referrals which saved the 31st MDG $3,200.  “We want to provide the best care that we can for our patients,” said Dela Cruz. “We’re there for the families and active-duty members to make sure that they get the care that they need.” Additionally, the team prepared 20 medical reassignments, 80 command sponsorships, reviewed medical clearances for 619 inbound and outbound families, and enrolled 50 family members in the Exceptional Family Member Program. They also helped guide six clinical practice guidelines and stood up three wellness initiatives within seven clinics leading to the Defense Health Agency rating them as ''exceeding targets.” “I think that by all of us caring about what we do and making sure we do that to the best of our ability is how we got to where we’re at,” said Chambers. “Also having open communication and figuring out how we can work together in our jobs to improve patient care is a testament to our hard work.” Wyvern Nation is proud to have you on our team! Keep up the outstanding work.  

AVIANO AIR BASE, ITALY

01.04.2023

Story by Senior Airman Brooke Keisler 

31st Fighter Wing

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy—This week’s Wyvern Warrior Team of the Week is the 31st Medical Group Medical Management section! This team provides Wyvern Nation comprehensive and coordinated medical care to Aviano families as well as community support, medical and educational services.

“One of our main priorities is outreach,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Kristin Dela Cruz, 31st MDG disease manager. “It’s hard to spread all the information individuals should know. We want to help educate patients to what’s offered on base and we have so many resources available.”

This team is comprised of seven medical professionals from five different sections: U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Emily Rougier, 31st MDG psychologist, U.S. Air Force Maj. Anna Halter, 31st MDG health care integrator, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy Walker, 31st Health Care Operations Squadron family member relocation care coordinator, Brooke Chambers, 31st MDG utilization manager, Regina Mini, 31st MDG case manager, U.S. Air Force Capt. Brandon Solomon, 31st MDG group practice manager, and Dela Cruz.

Over the past six months, this team oversaw 18 casualty status cases and averaged 120 monthly Emergency Room follow-ups and critical aeromedical evacuations all while maintaining a 95% 24-hour contact rate. Over the past quarter, the team instituted a process improvement that recuperated 31% of referrals which saved the 31st MDG $3,200. 

“We want to provide the best care that we can for our patients,” said Dela Cruz. “We’re there for the families and active-duty members to make sure that they get the care that they need.”

Additionally, the team prepared 20 medical reassignments, 80 command sponsorships, reviewed medical clearances for 619 inbound and outbound families, and enrolled 50 family members in the Exceptional Family Member Program. They also helped guide six clinical practice guidelines and stood up three wellness initiatives within seven clinics leading to the Defense Health Agency rating them as ''exceeding targets.”

“I think that by all of us caring about what we do and making sure we do that to the best of our ability is how we got to where we’re at,” said Chambers. “Also having open communication and figuring out how we can work together in our jobs to improve patient care is a testament to our hard work.”

Wyvern Nation is proud to have you on our team! Keep up the outstanding work.

• Date Taken: 01.04.2023
• Date Posted: 01.05.2023 03:35
• Story ID: 436235
• Location: AVIANO AIR BASE, IT