News

Show of strength: Warrior Care Month breakfast presents resources for service members
December 5, 2017 — The Second Annual Warrior Care Breakfast and Information Fair was held at the Airman & Family Readiness Center here for wounded, injured and ill service members, their families, caregivers and base leadership Nov. 29, 2017.Warrior Care Month is observed annually to showcase the recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration tools available to assist... MORE

Tresia A. Frazer, left, vocational rehabilitation counselor, speaks with Staff Sgt. Robert Gibson, right, 628th Security Force Squadron and his wife Sadie Gibson as Bill Oldenburg, center, Education and Employment Initiative and Operational Warfighter regional coordinator – Mid-Atlantic, looks on during the Second Annual Warrior Care Breakfast and Information Fair at the Airman & Family Readiness Center here Nov. 29, 2017.

Exercise tests medical group’s rapid immunization capability
November 21, 2017 — The 628th Medical Group demonstrated their ability to swiftly administer medication in the event of a pandemic or health emergency during a mass-immunization exercise at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, Nov. 15, 2017... MORE

Airmen receive a briefing prior to getting their annual flu vaccine during a mass-immunization exercise at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Nov. 15, 2017.

First Stop Initiative improves access to mental and behavioral health care
November 15, 2017 — Navigating a complex healthcare system and seeking out a mental health specialist can be overwhelming and time consuming. As a result, many are reluctant to address treatable mental health concerns. To make it easier for patients, the Air Force has implemented a program called First Stop Initiative, making the primary care clinic the first stop for all mental and behavioral health concerns... MORE

Air Force pharmacists support deployed missions
November 15, 2017 — When most people think of pharmacists, they imagine a local drug store or the pharmacy counter at their military treatment facility. Those are common locations to encounter pharmacists, but many people might not know that Air Force pharmacists also provide critical deployed medical support, offering their medication expertise in deployed theaters around the world... MORE

Air Force diabetes prevention program shows promising results
November 14, 2017 — With 1 in 3 Americans at risk for diabetes, researchers and health professionals at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center in San Antonio, found it critical to implement and test the Group Lifestyle Balance program. The GLB program is a diabetes prevention program that was originally developed at the University of Pittsburgh and piloted at seven Air Force bases. The program targets those at risk for developing diabetes, including anyone with elevated blood sugars, metabolic issues, or a family history of diabetes... MORE

Take command: Enroll now for 2018 TRICARE coverage
November 9, 2017 — On Jan. 1, 2018, there are a number of changes coming to your TRICARE benefit. This includes a change to the current TRICARE regions. The current three regions (North, South and West) will become two regions (East and West). There will be new regional contractors for the new East and West regions... MORE

Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineers bring advanced exposure surveillance to the front lines
October 30, 2017 — Modern battlefields have many sources of potentially harmful airborne substances, but that is not the only place that Airmen can be exposed to harmful environmental factors. Air Force bioenvironmental engineers are developing technology to track, catalogue, and provide useful data about environmental exposures that will help identify battlefield threats in real time and inform Airmen of the everyday exposures that affect their health... MORE

New annual Mental Health Assessment requirement begins July 31
July 19, 2017 — Starting July 31, 2017, Airmen undergoing their annual Periodic Health Assessment may notice something new. A Mental Health Assessment will now be part of every annual PHA, to help ensure that Airmen suffering from undiagnosed mental health issues are referred to the necessary care. Mental health issues are a serious problem for U.S. Armed Forces... MORE

New annual Mental Health Assessment requirement began July 31, 2017. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Steve Thompson)

New Air Force health mobile app available for patients
July 6, 2017 — The Air Force Medical Service has launched a new mobile app to connect Airmen and patients to news and information about the AFMS. The new app is a mobile version of the AFMS website, and lets users customize their experience based on the Air Force military treatment facility (MTF) they use. This way, patients can get information about clinic... MORE

The Air Force Medical Service is launching a mobile app that will let users access the news and information available on the AFMS website right from their smartphones.

PTSD doesn’t have to be fought alone
June 27, 2017 — Post-traumatic stress disorder can be the result of someone experiencing an event that creates a heightened sense of terror or helplessness. PTSD can cause debilitating anxiety and fear throughout the remainder of the affected person’s life.Although PTSD may be associated with combat and the military, non-combat related incidents such as assaults,... MORE

An Airman walks into Joint Base Charleston’s mental health clinic on post-traumatic stress awareness day June 27, 2017. Although PTSD may be associated with combat and the military, non-combat related incidents such as assaults, natural disasters, abuse and accidents can also cause the onset of the disorder. Starting in 2010, Congress named June 27 PTSD Awareness Day. In 2014, the Senate designated the full month of June for National PTSD Awareness to promote effective treatment of the disorder throughout the year.