Inpatient squadron activates, steamlines medical services

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A recent ceremony marks activation of new medical squadron dedicated solely to inpatient medical care.

During an activation ceremony June 29 at the Air Armament Museum, Lt. Col. Corrine Naughton assumed command of the 96th Inpatient Operations Squadron at the Eglin Hospital.

The 96th IPTS has three flights that operate within the squadron: the Maternal Child flight, the Multiservice Flight and the Critical Care Flight. Manning for the unit was taken from existing 96th Medical Group units said Colonel Naughton.

"This (new squadron) extends the hospitals capabilities for taking care of patients," said Maj. Jerry Rumbach, Critical Care Flight commander. "We don't have to refer patients to civilian facilities because we can do it in house."

The Maternal Child Inpatient Flight, or labor and delivery, delivers 70 to 90 babies per month. The Multiservice Flight is a 36-bed flight that takes care of most inpatient needs from pediatric to geriatric post surgery care. The Critical Care Flight is an eight-bed intensive care unit. The squadron employs more than 180 staff primarily made up of registered nurses, medical and administrative technicians.

Consolidating these inpatient services under a single squadron allows unit members to streamline their operations.

"The changes highlight several objectives: focus on functions and clinical expertise; corps-specific force development; reduced overhead cost (with) decreased administrative burden; trains/sustains expeditionary medics," Colonel Naughton said.