Photo By Matt Denny | Navy Lt. Joseph R. Muckenthaler, a general dentist for Evans Branch Dental Clinic, 3rd...... read more read more
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CAMP FOSTER, Japan - The newly renovated Evans Branch Dental Clinic here opened its doors July 6.
The clinic has been temporarily operating in an old barracks since renovations began in December 2009.
Humidity, age and significant pace of operations had taken their toll on the previous dental clinic. Operational systems have now been replaced and upgraded, and a state-of-the art instrument sterilization area has been installed.
The new equipment increases efficiency by processing instruments and equipment, ultimately improving capability and capacity, according to the Commanding Officer, Capt. Mike Wolfgang.
The updated facility, which took 18 months to renovate and costs $4.5 million, is a welcome change to medical care providers and staff.
“Our old sterilization room at the temporary facility was small and crowded,” said Seaman Jaleel Pacheco, a hospital corpsman and a central sterilization room technician at the clinic. “Now, I have more space for the dirty and clean areas within separate rooms.”
The clinic serves all branches of the U.S. military, family members, retirees and Department of Defense employees. The renovated facility has 23 dental treatment rooms, three surgery rooms, a full-service laboratory and state of the art sterilization rooms. The new facility currently operates with 30 corpsman, 13 dentists and 19 civilian employees.
“I like the new open-bay type of work areas,” said Petty Officer Yan Yang, a hospital corpsman and endodontic assistant at the clinic. “It allows us, as assistants, to move from patient to patient more quickly, and, while my dentist is working on one patient, I can be preparing the next room over for the next patient, while still keeping an eye on other patients.”
The open-bay dental operatory design promotes the practice of multi-chair dentistry. This technique allows dental officers to provide care to more patients. Each station is equipped with state-of-the-art delivery units that consolidate some standard components and maximizes efficiency.
“Improved efficiency and capability leads to a (better) treatment outcome,” said Cmdr. Benjamin W. Young, the dental director at Evans Branch Dental Clinic, 3rd Dental Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “With all the new internal systems and advanced technologies, it will be a stepping stone to the future of improved delivery of care.”
The addition of a wheelchair ramp and an elevator allows care for all patients. The handicap-accessible entrance is equipped with a buzzer and camera so patients who need help getting inside can be served as quickly as possible.
The command spent countless hours planning to make this facility as efficient as possible, while serving patients with the best care available, said Young.
Radiographs are a necessary tool in dentistry, and the new facility is equipped with two full-service X-ray rooms. Each treatment room also has a built-in X-ray.
“It used to be that if a patient needed an X-ray, we had to have patients get out of the exam chair and walk down the hall to the X-ray room,” said Young. “This addition allows every treatment room to have an X-ray accessible within arms length, without having to move the patient. This increases workflow and a patient does not have to wait in line for an X-ray.”
The clinic is the largest clinic within III MEF and has a full-service laboratory. This allows patient needs to be met without waiting for products like crowns or dentures to be created at a separate facility.
“With the renovations and new equipment we will have quicker turn-around times on products, which will help with the patient flow and keeping our patients happy,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Isiah M. Burns, an advanced dental-laboratory technician at the clinic. “Our lab provides services to all clinics within 3rd Dental Battalion, which includes Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Marine Corps Base Hawaii.”
The new facility is equipped with three fully-loaded surgery rooms. In the past, the dentists would have to perform all surgery procedures at the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa. The new facility is equipped with three fully-loaded surgery rooms.
“In the past when I performed surgery, we had to use a standard dental room, but the new surgery rooms are designed for surgeons,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nima A. Khorassani, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the clinic.
The effort was monumental in size and scope and would have not been possible without the support of Navy Medicine West, Marine Corps Bases Japan, Naval Hospital Okinawa, all facility engineers in the area, the sailors and Marines of 3rd Dental Battalion and the patience of the beneficiaries and family members on Okinawa, said Young.
The clinic is open from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. If a patient is faced with a dental emergency, the clinic provides an afterhours dentist who is on call 24/7. For more information about the new dental clinic, call 645-7381.
| Date Taken: | 07.22.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.21.2011 19:56 |
| Story ID: | 74098 |
| Location: | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 264 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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