Flight medicine changes hours

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Williams
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The 1st Special Operations Aerospace Medicine Squadron Flight Medicine section recently changed their hours to better accommodate the needs of Air Commandos.

Acute appointments are available Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Central appointments will start booking at 7:00 a.m.

Routine and follow-up appointments are available Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. until close of business. Return-to-Flight status walk-in hours are available Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

There is no change to flight physical scheduling at this time.

"Our flyers' time is very valuable -- their job is to be in the air, not waiting in our waiting room for an appointment," said Maj. Dion Vecchio, flight commander of 1st SOAMDS. "By changing to appointment-based acute care, we are able to get our flyers back in their planes quicker. Whereas before they may wait several hours at a time for a sick-call visit, they are in and out now in 30 minutes or less".

Vecchio also said the flight is working hard every day to meet those needs.

"Quality care for all of our patients is what we all strive for," he said. "At the 1st Special Operations Medical Group, our mission is to provide exceptional healthcare for Air Commandos and their families."

According to the squadron's fact sheet, 1st SOAMDS personnel ensure maximum wartime readiness via deployment medicine, aircrew health care, disease prevention, wellness promotion, medical readiness, workspace/environmental surveillance, battlefield Airmen medical support and collaborative and operational relevant research.

For more information about flight medicine or to schedule an appointment, call the central appointment line at 883-8600 or 884-7882.