Commander honors wing members with awars

Published Jan. 18, 2008
72nd Air Base Wing

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Col. Mark Correll, 72nd Air Base Wing commander, recently awarded wing members with the Commander' s Wildcatter Award.
   Billy Romine was awarded the Wildcatter Award for his work as a general schedule pharmacy technician for the 72nd Medical Support Squadron. Mr. Romine, a nationally certified technician, joined team Tinker in January 2007. Mr. Romine has successfully delivered 93,000 prescriptions to 54,000 beneficiaries.
   Mr. Romine has performed daily inventories of six narcotic areas and 90 drugs ensuring a 100-percent accountability. He yielded an accuracy rate of 99.98 percent. He also led peers to complete lengthy end-of-day checklists, greatly enhancing start-up operations and ensured on-time refill rate. He pulled and logged non-compliant prescriptions and improved accuracy of patient profiles by 25 percent. Mr. Romine also dispensed 500 prescriptions for ground testing programs and improved mission readiness and identified facility improvement projects prior to mock Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care inspection.
   Dr. Long Nguyen, internal medicine provider for the 72nd MDG, has managed a population of more than 700 patients with complex medical problems. Dr. Nguyen absorbed a 10 percent increase in enrollment while maintaining access to care at a rate of 98 to 100 percent and exceeded the Air Force goal by 10 percent. In the last quarter, he generated 1,705 patient encounters, delivering more than $83,000 worth of care. In one month alone, Dr. Nguyen completed 571 patient visits and consults, the highest in the medical group. His relentless pursuit to provide the "best care anywhere" has led to the development of a Weight Loss Clinic and he is currently treating 50 patients.
   As the only credentialed provider who is able to interpret pulmonary function tests, Dr. Nguyen has provided more than 300 diagnostic assessments, saving the medical group $135,000 in network referrals and outsourcing.
   Staff Sgt. Steve Crowder was awarded the Wildcatter Award for his work as a technician for the Family Practice Flight for the 72nd Medical Group. His keen insight and expertise are easily recognized, as demonstrated by his invitation to attend the Air Force Materiel Command's Surgeon General's Air Force Special Operations for the 21st Century conference in Seattle, Wash.
   Sergeant Crowder examines ways to improve processes and has contributed to three separate AFSO 21 events within the medical group. Sergeant Crowder's "can-do" attitude has fostered an environment which is open to change and progress. He is dedicated to education, as evidenced in achieving his Bachelor's degree in the past year, and providing an avenue for others to obtain required expertise. Sergeant Crowder has conducted classes for emergency medical technician requirements, as well as posturing his career field for deployment.
His warrior ethos and dedication to the mission are revealed in his accomplishments, which include, directing daily technician operations in AFMC's largest freestanding family practice clinic, which executes 52,000 visits per year. He also overhauled TRICARE online, which freed 80 man hours and regained $15,000. Sergeant Crowder audited 120 medical records, identified 260 deficiencies, and established protocols leading to 100 percent in compliance. He crafted a Lean event, revised a 38-item worksheet, which eliminated redundant processes, and led to increased efficiency by 10 percent.
   Capt. (Dr.) Jay Geary was awarded the Wildcatter Award for his work as the medical director of the Family Practice Flight for the 72nd Medical Group. Dr. Geary is a proven performer, leading 14 family practice providers in delivering "The Best Care Anywhere." His professionalism, work ethic, and outstanding leadership skills have led him to shine amongst his peers. He has developed an unwavering reputation as an exceptional officer and warrior medic.
   He is ranked number one among 14 medical operations squadron physicians, which led to more than 3,000 visits and delivered $328,000 in care for 53,000 clients. Dr. Geary's leadership drove the Medical Group to number one in Air Force Materiel Command with 99 percent of patients reporting a (to a?) courteous (and?) respectful staff. Dr. Geary championed 670 profile reviews which identified errors and increased deployablility rate by 25 percent.
   Dr. Geary also effectively managed 980 after-hour patient calls or requests for care and assigned them appropriate level of medical care. Dr. Geary's leadership and dedication to the mission has earned great respect from both peers and the medical group executive staff.