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Medical Group welcomes four walls after six years in tents

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ruth Holcomb
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing/ Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyz Republic --  After nearly seven years operating out of a tent facility, the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group held a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new hospital building here July 17.

The new facility will allow the Medical Group to give their 600 monthly patients the care they deserve. The structure includes better inpatient facilities, an operating room, emergency room, a new laboratory, a dental office and three individual patient care rooms.

"This facility will provide our community with a high quality work environment and state-of-the-art technology and equipment for the EMDG to effectively and efficiently achieve our mission of providing quality health care for our patients," said Col. (Dr.) Thomas W. Grace, 376th EMDG commander. "It's been a long, hard road to get this project to where it is today. It's very exciting to realize that 27 health care professionals are already working here to further the health and safety of the Manas community."

The 376th EMDG works closely with the Joint Patient Movements Requirement Center and the Spanish "Mizar" Detachment to prepare patients for movement to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, or to military facilities in Germany for treatment of conditions beyond local capabilities.

The permanent hospital structure for Manas AB has been long awaited, taking nearly six years from concept to reality.

"It is exciting to finally be able to move to the new facility," said Staff Sgt. Sherry York, 376th EMDG medical technician. "We will be able to operate in a more sanitized environment and it will provide nicer facilities for our patients, especially inpatients."

"This building will provide improved health care for our permanent party members and warriors coming in and out of Afghanistan," said Col. Christopher Bence, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "The first patient was seen yesterday and kicked off a future of first class health care at Manas AB."

"The addition of the new facility helps enable the 376th EMDG to provide phenomenal health care 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to provide emergency life, limb, and eyesight preserving care for our patients, as well as ensure the continued mission readiness of the active duty force" said Colonel Grace.