Helping Shoulder the Medical Load

Air Force officials at JB Andrews, Md., recently expanded the base’s medical clinic with an ambulatory surgery center that will help ease the strain on the Defense Department’s Walter Reed Medical Center in close-by Bethesda, Md. Investing $500,000 in new equipment, Andrews’ Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic “has gone out of their way to help,” said Army Maj. Amy Vertrees, Walter Reed attending surgeon. She added, “It is a joy to go out there, and I am so happy with how this arrangement has worked out.” Designed to provide more routine surgical care to military personnel in the National Capital Region, Andrews’ new 18-bed surgical ward enables Walter Reed to focus on treating and rehabilitating the combat wounded, said Andrews officials. “We have just purchased an imaged guided navigation system for ear, nose, and throat procedures,” that debuted on May 11, as well as new orthopedic equipment, noted Lt. Col. Shawn Zarr, 779th Surgical Operations Squadron commander at the clinic. (Andrews report by Melanie Moore)