NEW DENTAL CLINIC BEING BUILT AT EGLIN AFB

Growth of Eglin also continues . I had the pleasure of talking to the Base Commander at our Military Officer's Meeting and as stated before, continued growth is on the horizon. Below is just another example of the support programs being added to Eglin to meet the increased population of military personnel.


New dental clinic going up at Eglin (DOCUMENT)
Mona Moore
2010-01-20 20:02:26
EGLIN AFB — Construction has begun on a new clinic that will provide dental and medical care to the base’s growing population.
Because of new missions related to Base Realignment and Closure, Eglin Air Force Base’s population is expected to grow by nearly 4,000 people over the next six years.
The $13.6 million clinic is expected to open in September 2011, shortly before the population spikes.
The two-story 31,300-square-foot clinic will be located across from Eglin Regional Hospital and next to the Fisher House.
When the clinic opens, the hospital’s existing 21,000-square-foot clinic will be used for general medicine.
“The medical group is keeping with its strategic mission to take over the west end of the base,” Col. Gary Walker, commander of the 96th Medical Group, joked at a recent groundbreaking ceremony.
Eglin’s existing dental clinic has a 99 percent satisfaction rate, more than 7 percent more than the Department of Defense’s average.
“The best testament we can give to how effective and efficient our folks are is that you take your dental care for granted; you know it’s already taken care of in a very proactive fashion,” Walker said.
The clinic will have 52 dental treatment rooms and a new dental laboratory. Thirty people will join the existing 90-person staff.
The dental residency program also will be expanded. When the new clinic opens, the one-year program will grow from six residents to eight or 10.