79th Medical Wing
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2013) |
| 79th Medical Wing | |
|---|---|
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| Active | 20 June 1955 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Medical |
| Part of | Air Force District of Washington |
| Garrison/HQ | Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility |
| Motto(s) | Deliver Ready Medics and Improve the Health of All we Serve! |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Sharon Bannister |
The 79th Medical Wing (79 MDW) is the United States Air Force's single medical voice for planning and implementing Air Force and joint medical solutions within the National Capital Region (NCR). Activated on May 10, 2006, it is the largest wing within the Air Force District of Washington and only the second medical wing in the Air Force. Our Facebook official page is AFMS 79th Medical Wing and our web page is www.79MDW.af.mil[1]
The 79th Medical Wing is a tenant unit on Andrews Air Force Base, and headquartered at Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center. As part of its mission, the wing organizes, trains, equips and provides medical forces for Air and Space Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployment, homeland operations and in support of joint operations within the NCR, and is the East Coast hub for aeromedical evacuation aircraft returning sick or injured patients from the Atlantic area.
Additionally, the 79th Medical Wing is responsible for providing medical support to Presidential, Congressional, Joint and Air Staff special airlift missions.
79th Medical Wing special interests
- East Coast hub for aeromedical evacuation
- Tri-service Integrated Health Care Service
- Acupuncture Center
Mission
Deliver Ready Medics and Improve the Health of All we Serve!
Unit History
The wing started as a Medical Detachment consisting of one officer (Capt. Isadore L. Epstein) and 11 enlisted men who reported to Camp Springs and set up a dispensary. The dispensary had an eight bed ward, two private rooms, a pharmacy, a dental clinic with two chairs, an x-ray machine, kitchenette and offices. Five ambulances were available and Walter Reed General Hospital and Bolling Field Station Hospital were used for consultation and emergencies.
Named after Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Malcolm Grow in 1962, the center was dedicated to a man who served as a field doctor in both world wars, in 1949 was selected at the first Air Force Surgeon General and was active in military medicine until his death in 1960.
Originally named the USAF Hospital Andrews, construction began in June 1955 and was completed in May 1958 to the tune of $5.5 million. Staffed by Bolling and Andrews personnel, the facility opened Aug. 4, 1958 and provided care to more than 75,000 area military personnel and their families.
Today there are more than 600,000 eligible Department of Defense beneficiaries in the National Capital Region.
On a typical day in patient care, Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center sees 930 outpatients, 90 dental patients, 72 Emergent Care Center patients, conducts seven surgical procedures, takes care of 30 patients transitioning at the Aeromedical Staging Facility and fills 1,963 pharmacy prescriptions.
Assignments
- Air Force District of Washington (2006–Present)
Subordinate Organizations[2]
- 579th Medical Group
- 779th Medical Group (activated 9 Oct 2008)
Bases stationed
- Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland (2006 – Present)
Anacostia-Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., Pentagon Flight Clinic, Walter Reed Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., Fort Belvoir, Va., Fort Meade, Md.
References
This article contains information that originally came from a US Government website, in the public domain.
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