MDOS heartbeat of MDG

Staff Sgt. Miranda Pyles, 56th Medical Operations Squadron allergy and immunization technician, receives a third dose of the papilloma vaccine Jan. 14 from Senior Airman Cassandra Saunders, 56th MDOS allergy and immunization technician, at Luke Air Force Base. The allergy and immunization clinic also administers allergy tests. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Pedro Mota)

MDOS heartbeat of MDG

Published Jan. 23, 2015
By Airman Pedro Mota
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The experts say it's OK not to be OK. The experts say those who get help and don't give up are the ones who make it through the tough times.

The 56th Medical Operations Squadron plays an important role in helping and giving hope to those who need it in the Luke Air Force Base community.

"We operate as the primary healthcare for the active-duty and civilian population at Luke," said Col. Constance Jackson, 56th MDOS commander. "Within the MDOS we have four flights that enable us to see to the fifty-five hundred people here on base."

One of the four flights is the behavioral health clinic which includes mental health, family advocacy, and alcohol and drug abuse prevention.

Another flight is family health, the largest of the four.

"Family health has seven teams that work in a patient centered, medical, home-style atmosphere," Jackson said. "Patients come in and are seen by one of two health care providers as opposed to one of 15. This style of medical care provides continuity for the patients and is good for the providers to form relationships."

The medical services flight consists of pediatrics, allergy and immunization, women's health, ambulance operations and internal medicine.

"Something special we do in the allergy and immunization clinic is give tests to evaluate people for allergies," Jackson said. "Two allergists screen patients in specific sample tests to identify allergies to medication or caused by the environment."

One more flight is made up of orthopedic surgeons, general surgeons, physical therapists and chiropractors to address needs in those areas.

"The medical operations squadron is the very heartbeat of the 56th Medical Group because it provides for the majority of primary healthcare needs of the eligible Luke population," said Chief Master Sgt. Tommy Belcher, 56th MDOS squadron superintendent. "However, it is only able to provide these services with the support of the other three squadrons that make up the 56th Medical Group."