Behind the Scenes: IT team supports DGMC

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Carter
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  When thinking of a hospital, many picture doctors, nurses and patients. The initial thought does not involve the computer that was used to research possible diagnoses or cures. Some also don't initially picture the phone line that was open and functioning when someone had to call about an emergency.

Everything we do is reliant on some form of technology and there is a team of technicians who work behind the scenes to make sure that every single communication item in the hospital is up to par.

The 60th Medical Support Squadron information systems flight at Travis Air Force Base supports the communication system throughout David Grant USAF Medical Center, the largest inpatient military treatment facility in the Air Force.

"Our equipment inventory is more than 4,000 pieces," said Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Davis, 60th MDSS information systems flight superintendent. "That means we are responsible for more than 4,000 computers and printers. That doesn't include the keyboards, scanners, monitors and other pieces that also can break."

The team of approximately 60 people works around the clock to make sure all of the computers and phones function properly.

"There is a phone at every desk," Davis said. "There are 2,400 users here and when the call center line goes down, we are there to fix it."

Working behind the scenes comes with the territory because computers have to be updated between providers helping patients, which can be a challenge, according to Davis.

"Most people don't realize that when they show up to work and their computer is working and up to date, there are people that are literally climbing the walls to make sure the wiring is correct," she said. "When someone's computer acts up, we are the ones to get everything back on track."

Consisting of skilled technicians who gain specialized training as they advance, the information systems flight stays busy 24/7.

"Before I entered the military, I was in vocational school for information technology, so this has been a refresher for me. I enjoy it," said Airman 1st Class Mark Baccaro, 60th MDSS systems warehouse technician. "We refreshed 77 computers in four days just last week."

Davis speaks proudly of her team of technicians and the importance of what they do.
"The doctors, they save lives," she said. "They save lives because we provide them with the computers and the electronics to be able to do that."