Temporary closure, partial re-routing of DGMC second floor underway Published May 7, 2010 By Jim Spellman 60th Medical Group Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Visitors to David Grant USAF Medical Center are normally accustomed to making a simple left turn at the elevators upon reaching the second floor on the north side of the facility for clinics and laboratory work. Lately, they have been reminding themselves to "zig" instead of "zag" until mid-May. As part of DGMC's on-going modernization project, the main corridor leading from the second floor north side elevators to the Laboratory area have been blocked for construction. Instead of normally turning to their left, patients have had to make a right turn at the elevators and follow temporary signage directing them down an alternate corridor to be seen for their labwork. Taking the central elevators from the first floor to the second floor within DGMC remains a viable route, as does coming in on the south side of the medical facility to the second floor clinics and laboratory area. "We've really tried to minimize any inconveniences to our patients during this remodeling process for the past couple of years now," said Lt. Colonel Lewis Martin, 60th Medical Group deputy hospital administrator. "We think we've been pretty good in maintaining our full health care services here with as little interruption as possible. "However, the 'big pieces of the puzzle' are now starting to drop into place in our master plan. When we're finished with this phase, our customers are going to have their socks knocked off when they see what changes are in store for them." According to Colonel Martin, the temporary closure of the normal second floor passageway on the north side of DGMC was necessary to accommodate the contractors and work crews. Temporary blocking of the passage with artificial walls was done to minimze the amount of noise and dust abatement during normal duty hours. "Once complete, a new, dramatic and semi-curved customer service center will replace the boxy and somewhat drab appearance of our current laboratory patient waiting area," said Col. Bailey Mapp, 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutic Squadron clinical laboratory flight commander for DGMC. "In the final construction, multiple reception windows will offer a faster, 'one-stop' customer experience for our laboratory, diagnostic imaging and outpatient pharmacy." According to Colonel Mapp, this "one-stop" design for three ancillary services should also reduce patient waiting periods. "It's all part of our plan to make a more positive and memorable experience for our patients as we exceed their expectations of what a medical center should be to them," Colonel Martin said.