DGMC begins major moves

  • Published
  • By Jim Spellman
  • 60th MEDICAL GROUP
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The nursery school game of musical chairs has become a high art form at David Grant USAF Medical Center. Key offices and customer service centers have begun the process of moving from familiar locations to temporary locales and uncharted territories throughout the huge facility. 

All the moves are in support of a $50 million renovation program that will bring new and expanded clinical services to DGMC including heart surgery. 

The American Red Cross station at DGMC recently completed its move Sept. 22 from the second floor down to the first floor near the north entrance. All phone numbers will remain the same. 

The TRICARE Service Center and TRICARE Flight offices will close today for their scheduled relocation. Both offices will reopen Oct. 5 in temporary locations on the second floor of the East wing in DGMC. Hours of operation will remain 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. once the TRICARE Service Center and TRICARE flight reopens on Monday. 

DGMC hopes to minimize any inconvenience these continuing moves may impose upon their customers. Customers who need immediate or urgent assistance during the closure and relocation of the TRICARE Service Center are encouraged to call 1-888-TRIWEST (1-888-874-9378). 

These latest moves clear the way for construction of a new Hemodialysis and Oncology treatment center on the first floor being vacated by the TRICARE Service Center and TRICARE Flight. 

The TRICARE Service Center will temporarily occupy the area formerly used by the Medical center library while the TRICARE Flight moves into the space recently vacated by the Hypertension, Obesity, Lipidemia, Diabetes, Smoking and Stress clinics. 

The HOLDSS clinic has now set up shop in the front portion of the former Medical Center Library, while the library itself has consolidated and downsized itself to the rear half of its original footprint. 

According to Col. Mark Allen, the 60th Medical Group's hospital administrator, these interim relocations are expected to last for 18 months as part of DGMC's ongoing structural improvements and renovations to the 20-year-old facility. 

"These moves have been in the planning process for quite some time," Colonel Allen said. "There are a lot of working parts to this massive plan that will be happening fast and furious over the next few months here with our contractor partners." 

Colonel Allen pointed out the end result of these movements will "pay off in huge dividends by early 2011" when DGMC unveils a radically redesigned Customer Service Center on the second floor, along with other notable improvements throughout the facility. 

"Coupled with a new Hemodialysis and Oncology Center, the soon-to-be upgraded Laboratory, Outpatient Pharmacy and a state-of-the-art Cardiovascular Care Center, these new enhancements and efficiencies will make our patients' healthcare experiences and easier access to DGMC services that much better," said Colonel Allen.