90th MW, MDG commanders break wall for MTF construction project

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jason Wiese
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  The 90th Missile Wing and 90th Medical Group commanders made the ceremonial first sledgehammer blows Jan. 19, to a wall in the 90th MDG Medical Treatment Facility signifying the beginning of a construction project to expand the MTF.

Col. Stephen Kravitsky, 90th MW commander, and Col. Hans Ritschard, 90th MDG commander, struck the wall in the MTF in front of a crowd of onlookers including Airmen, families and community partners showing their support for the $18.3 million project.

"If you go into a clinic or a hospital that's built this week in the USA, what you'll encounter is a lot of glass and open-air areas in the front where the patients go, and all the logistics are behind the scenes," Ritschard said. "What we have right now in this building is a lot of our forward administrative and logistical [offices] out in front."

The goal of the construction is to bring the administrative and logistical work centers to the back, allowing smoother, more efficient patient care, he said.

"The end result will be better medical care for both staff and patients," he said.

When the new construction is complete, the 90th MDG will have new hallway flooring, more seating in pharmacy waiting area, new windows and additional exam rooms. Also, the new construction will bring the Health and Wellness Center from the Freedom Hall Fitness Center to the MTF, and the mental health clinic will be better incorporated with the rest of the MTF, said Maj. Sean Hoskins, 90th Medical Support Squadron Medical Logistics and Readiness Flight commander.

Construction planners expect contractors to begin work on the project in February and expect it to take two years to complete if all goes according to plan, Hoskins said.

During that time, the 90th MDG will provide all the same medical services it currently offers. The construction is not expected to affect traffic; however, there may be some point during the project when construction affects affects parking, Hoskins said.

"Part of the planning process was careful staging to make sure patient care areas are not disrupted," Ritschard said. "Also, patient safety was a priority throughout the whole planning process."

The 90th MDG planned the project with the Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Army Corps of Engineers and the Gilbane Building Company, who will be performing the construction work.

"We're working hand-in-hand with those folks to make sure this is as painless as possible for our beneficiaries," Hoskins said. "We'll make sure to keep everyone up-to-date on changes to make this project go smoothly for our patients and staff."