435th Medical Group takes care of Ramstein

From aches and pains to bumps, bruises and colds, the 435th Medical Group Family Medicine Clinic takes care of it all.

The clinic serves more than 14,000 patients in four clinics, making it the largest overseas family practice in the Air Force. However, this does not stop it from giving the best service to its patients.

While the clinic has a variety of services to offer, deployment issues are at the top of its priority list.

“Our primary purpose is to deploy our Airmen,” said Maj. Connie Winik, 435th MDG flight commander of the FMC. “This includes not only getting our Airmen here at the clinic ready, but processing our patients who are set to deploy. We can clear numbers very quickly and thoroughly.”

Providing support to thousands of patients keeps the staff pretty busy, said Master Sgt. Laura Salazar, 435th MDG flight NCO Family Medicine Flight.

“The clinic opens at 7 a.m. and while it closes at 4 p.m., many of the staff members do not leave until well after 5:30 p.m. because they are finishing up their tasks,” Sergeant Salazar said. “Though this is a demanding job, the people here are amazing. Given all our challenges with meager staffing, our people get the job done. Even though the staff can get run down, they keep coming back, and I really appreciate it.”

Even with the hard hours, it does not stop the family practice staff from having a good attitude.

“The people who work here always want to help out wherever they can,” the sergeant said. “There is no moaning and groaning, but just a great grasp of the teamwork concept. The responsibility these young Airmen shoulder is immense. They bear a great load, and they do a great job at carrying it. I cannot remember having this much responsibility as a young Airman, but our Airmen here do it well.”

Many of the Airmen who work with the family practice receive a good learning experience.

“The opportunities here are endless,” said Airman 1st Class Jillian Chubet, 435th MDG medical technician. “The other day I was learning sutures, and today I could be learning about vasectomies. It is such a great experience, and I could not ask for better people to work with.”

The Airmen at the FMC work extremely hard, and their supervisors do not let their strong work ethic go unnoticed.

“The Airmen’s skills are invaluable to us,” Major Winik said. “They not only provide medical care, but they are way ahead of their peers on the civilian side. The aerospace medical technicians here are equivalent to a licensed practical nurse in the civilian sector.”

With the new advances in technology, the clinic has also jumped on the technological band wagon.

“Patients can use Tricare online to book appointments,” the major said. “Booking online is more convenient because you don’t have to try to compete with everyone trying to get an appointment. Along with booking appointments, patients can also refill prescriptions and fill out paperwork before their appointment.”

While the FMC does an immense amount, it cannot do everything because it is only equipped for certain situations, Major Winik said.

“If you went to your doctors in your hometown, we are about the same,” the major said. “We are a clinic, so we have limited capabilities. If someone has a true emergency, they should call 112 and go to the emergency room.”

For more information about the FMC or to make an appointment, call 479-2273.