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436th MDG restructures to enhance readiness

Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, hands Lt Col. Lisa Palmer, the guidon of the newly designated 436th Health Care Operations Squadron during a redesignation ceremony June 28, 2019, at the 436th MDG on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Activated in 1992, the 436th MDOS was redesignated as the 436th HCOS, in accordance with the 436th MDG’s reorganization as directed by the Secretary of the Air Force’s 2019 policy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, hands Lt Col. Lisa Palmer, the guidon of the newly designated 436th Health Care Operations Squadron during a redesignation ceremony June 28, 2019, at the 436th MDG on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Activated in 1992, the 436th MDOS was redesignated as the 436th HCOS, in accordance with the 436th MDG’s reorganization as directed by the Secretary of the Air Force’s 2019 policy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, removes the case from the newly designated 436th Health Care Operations Squadron guidon as Lt. Col. Lisa Palmer, 436th Medical Operations Squadron commander, prepares to furl the guidon of the 436th MDOS during a redesignation ceremony June 28, 2019, at the 436th MDG on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The 436th MDOS was re-designated as the 436th HCOS, whose focus is to provide care to all non-active duty beneficiaries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, removes the case from the newly designated 436th Health Care Operations Squadron guidon as Lt. Col. Lisa Palmer, 436th Medical Operations Squadron commander, prepares to furl the guidon of the 436th MDOS during a redesignation ceremony June 28, 2019, at the 436th MDG on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The 436th MDOS was re-designated as the 436th HCOS, whose focus is to provide care to all non-active duty beneficiaries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, watches Lt. Col. Lisa Palmer, 436th Medical Operations Squadron commander, furl the 436th MDOS guidon held by Master Sgt. Chad Boley, 436th MDOS superintendent, during a redesignation ceremony June 28, 2019, at the 436th MDG on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Chief Master Sgt. Cynthia Hammond, 436th MDG superintendent, unfurls the guidon of the newly designated 436th Health Care Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, watches Lt. Col. Lisa Palmer, 436th Medical Operations Squadron commander, furl the 436th MDOS guidon held by Master Sgt. Chad Boley, 436th MDOS superintendent, during a redesignation ceremony June 28, 2019, at the 436th MDG on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Chief Master Sgt. Cynthia Hammond, 436th MDG superintendent, unfurls the guidon of the newly designated 436th Health Care Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, watches Lt. Col. Lisa Palmer, 436th Medical Operations Squadron commander encase the 436th MDOS guidon held by Master Sgt. Chad Boley, 436th MDOS superintendent, during a redesignation ceremony June 28, 2019, at the 436th MDG on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Chief Master Sgt. Erica Hammond, 436th MDG superintendent, unfurled the guidon of the newly designated 436th Health Care Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, watches Lt. Col. Lisa Palmer, 436th Medical Operations Squadron commander encase the 436th MDOS guidon held by Master Sgt. Chad Boley, 436th MDOS superintendent, during a redesignation ceremony June 28, 2019, at the 436th MDG on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Chief Master Sgt. Erica Hammond, 436th MDG superintendent, unfurled the guidon of the newly designated 436th Health Care Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Lt. Col. Andrew Rees, 436th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron commander, accepts the squadron guidon from Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, during a change-of-command and redesignation ceremony June 28, 2019, at the Air Mobility Command Museum on Dover Air Force Base, Del. During the ceremony, the 436th Aerospace Medicine Squadron was redesignated as the 436th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Mauricio Campino)

Lt. Col. Andrew Rees, 436th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron commander, accepts the squadron guidon from Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, during a change-of-command and redesignation ceremony June 28, 2019, at the Air Mobility Command Museum on Dover Air Force Base, Del. During the ceremony, the 436th Aerospace Medicine Squadron was redesignated as the 436th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Mauricio Campino)

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The 436th Medical Group redesignated two medical squadrons to improve operational readiness for uniformed personnel June 28, 2019.

Upon witnessing initial success with Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, the Secretary of the Air Force directed an Air Force Medical Service reform effort, resulting in the redesignations at Dover AFB.

The redesignation of the 436th Medical Operations Squadron as the 436th Health Care Operations Squadron occurred in an official ceremony Friday morning. During the ceremony, Col. Patricia Fowler, 436th Medical Group commander, highlighted how the streamlined structure will improve care and readiness for beneficiaries.

“Today’s reorganization of our medical group enhances our ability to proactively manage Total Force medical care, thus improving personnel availability and rapidly restoring readiness, deployability and force lethality,” said Fowler. “Under this new construct, the Health Care Operations Squadron focus is to continue delivery of high-quality trusted care to those who have served before us and to the families that serve beside us.”

Under the new construct, the 436th HCOS will provide care to all non-active duty patients. Geographically, Pediatrics and Women’s Health will remain in the same location, and the Family Health Clinic will be on the first floor.

The 436th MDOS was part of the base’s history, lasting almost 27 years, and the MDOS lineage will carry over to the HCOS.

“Since its activation on October 1, 1992, the Airmen of the 436th Medical Operations Squadron delivered trusted care to 1,829,271 patients,” said Lt. Col. Lisa Palmer, 436th HCOS commander. “The squadron has had 14 commanders and just as many meritorious and outstanding unit awards. It has supported contingency operations in the form of deployments of our own medics while simultaneously providing medical support to our mission here at home.”

The Medical Group’s reorganization continued later in the day as the 436th Aerospace Medicine Squadron was redesignated as the 436th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron which will provide care for all active-duty service members on the third floor of the Medical Treatment Facility.

Due to the restructuring, many beneficiaries can expect to be assigned to a new Primary Care Manager. As PCM reassignments are completed, patients may be contacted to reschedule existing appointments with their new PCM.

Though squadron names have changed, the delivery of safe, high-quality care remains the 436th MDG’s number-one priority.