Med Group

During Tinker’s first exercise of the new fiscal year, WW-1101 held Oct. 18-22 brought 10 organizations from the 72nd Air Base Wing and the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center into combat survival training scenarios. Capt. E.J. Morris calls in during a post-attack reconnaissance sweep with a 72nd Medical Group team including Tech. Sgt. Elizandro Rucoba and Staff Sgt. George Rico Orr, back. Other medical group team members prepare to take a “victim” for help. “These exercises reinforce ATSO (Ability to Survive and Operate) skills and maintain the level of competence and expertise we worked hard to reach in ’09,” said exercise controller Paul Logan. (Air Force photo by Margo Wright)

‘Best Care Anywhere’

Published Jan. 6, 2011
By Maj. Jane Free
72nd Medical Group

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 72nd Medical Group keeps showing what it means to be a "wildcatter," the 72nd Air Base Wing's mascot.

Their consistent "over-the-top" effort and performance has resulted in a deluge of personal and group awards, numerous unit successes, and most importantly the "best care anywhere" for members of Tinker, their families and deployed members world-wide.

"Our folks here do a wonderful job providing outstanding patient care and customer service," said Col. Robert Marks, 72nd MDG commander. "The Air Force Materiel Command award nominees and selectees are the best of the best."

Fifty-eight members from the 72nd MDG were recognized in annual medical service award categories and submitted to compete at AFMC for 2010. There were 118 winners in 21 different categories. Winning categories included Best Large Base Health Promotions, Large Dental Clinic, Outstanding Pharmacy of the Year - Cat I Large Activity, Laboratory Team, and Outstanding Resource Management Team of the Year. Additionally, the medical group was selected as the AFMC nomination for the Air Force Surgeon General Award for Best Hospital or clinic.

"Everything we do here focuses on our No. 1 priority -- our patients," Colonel Marks said. "Whether that's readiness training for care at a deployed location or providing it right here at Tinker, we focus all of our efforts on that, our most important mission."

In the past year, the group medically processed more than 3,600 personnel for worldwide deployments in support of overseas contingency operations, conducted more than 180,000 patient visits and dispensed more than 360,000 prescriptions. The group also completed more than 5,000 protective mask fit tests, provided more than 225,000 lab tests, participated in five wing-level exercises, and still found time to maintain deployment standards for more than 246 of their own personnel for Air Expeditionary Force rotations.

"We're here to meet our patients' needs, whatever they may be," Colonel Marks said.