71st wing MTF best in Air Force

  • Published
  • By Frank McIntyre
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  The 71st Medical Group Military Treatment Facility was recognized as the Air Force's top performer during the recent 2004 TRICARE Conference.
The Vance facility scored 68.4 of a possible 80 points in key areas of customer support to take the top performer award.
The AF Surgeon, through his Performance Improvement Board, reviews eight metrics with routine access, patient satisfaction and dental readiness being just three examples. Some metrics have more weight than others in determining which MTF is number one.
"I can't say it any better," said Col James Calhoun, 71st Medical Group commander. "We're simply the best, not just in the Air Education and Training Command, but the Air Force.
"How did this happen? Quite simply ... through the hard work of our newest and youngest airmen, NCOs and officers. Our airmen know what the medical group's mission is ... we train pilots. They understand their job is to ensure the student graduates and in addition that he or she is not worried about their dependents' medical care when they should be focusing on flying.
"Vance's medics get personally involved with processes," he added. "Finally, our patients are also a major reason for this success ... they help identify areas where we can improve ... and we do."
The 2004 TRICARE Conference focused on the critical transition now under way for the next generation of TRICARE contracts and incorporated the vital contributions of military medical readiness to overall military readiness.