Temporary satellite pharmacy opens Feb. 4

  • Published
  • By Merrie Schillter Lowe
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The satellite pharmacy at Travis Air Force Base will open in its new temporary home Feb. 4 at 9 a.m.  The current facility in the base exchange mini mall will close Jan. 31 for the move.  Beneficiaries with emergent refill needs can contact the main pharmacy inside the David Grant USAF Medical Center.

The temporary facility features a number of improvements over the current facility, including six service windows, an enclosed lobby with seating area and a centralized prescription processing area that allows staff members to be more efficient, said Col. Bernard Vanpelt, 60th Medical Group pharmacy flight commander.  

“We’ve also modified our refill schedule to provide better customer service,” he said. 
 
Pharmacy staff now begin processing refills on Sunday to get a jump on the upcoming week.  

“The change allows us to pull people from the processing line to serve beneficiaries at the window on our busiest days, which are Monday through Wednesday,” said Vanpelt. 

The pharmacy also will reinstate the queueing system.  People with mobility issues will receive a number so they can sit and not lose their place in line, or their number to be called, said Vanpelt. 

Extensive renovations on the current satellite pharmacy also begin in February.  The ScriptCenter (kiosks) will remain in operation in the mini mall throughout the construction period.   

The temporary facility will be open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The kiosks are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

The 2,602 square feet of space for the current satellite pharmacy was obtained July 1, 1997.  
It no longer meets current Defense Department space planning criteria, lacks proper refill capabilities and is not configured to maximize operational efficiency due to changes in mission over the years, according to the scope of work.    

Additionally, the satellite facility shares the building with several Army and Air Force Exchange Service tenants, including the United States Postal Service, Class Six and Military Clothing Sales stores and other retail and service providers.   

The new facility will be nearly twice as large as the current satellite pharmacy and seat 36, said Vanpelt.  The renovations are scheduled to be completed in early 2020.  

For more information, call the pharmacy at (707) 423-7114 or (707) 423-5345