Friday, September 29, 2017

TOP STORY >> Base pharmacy ensures Airmen readiness, health

By Airman Rhett Isbell
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The 19th Medical Group pharmacy team works day in and day out to ensure they equip Little Rock Air Force Base Airmen with the medication they need to remain mission ready and capable.

Making sure a prescription is filled out correctly is key to protecting Little Rock Airmen from the ill effects of any preventable sicknesses or long-lasting ailments, as well as improving the lives of service members, dependents and retirees.

Pharmacy staff members focus on ensuring that Team Little Rock is ready to execute the mission they’re given at a moment’s notice, including deployments and temporary duty assignments (TDY) by providing them and their families the assistance they need. 

“Our everyday mission is to make sure those planes keep moving,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Winnert, 19th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy technician. “We take special care to make sure we get deployed members their medication to prevent them from getting sick while they’re away.”

When Airmen go on deployments or TDYs, it’s up to the base pharmacy to ensure Airmen have the medication needed to last them for the entire time the Airmen are away. If a Little Rock Airman runs out of or misplaces his medication, he can use the mail order pharmacy system or attempt to use the facilities at their current location to receive a refill.

All of the work and time spent on the men and women on the front lines doesn’t stop the pharmacy team from taking care of the rest of Team Little Rock on base. With a noticeably reduced wait time average, the pharmacy keeps the mission moving.

“In July, 55 percent of our customers checked-in in five minutes or less,” said Maj. Rachel Copeland, 19th MDSS pharmacy flight commander. 

The pharmacy team puts this emphasis on a speedy customer service to ensure sick Airmen and their families get the medication they need to get healthy again.

“The base pharmacy knows leaving behind loved ones who have medical conditions is one of the hardest things an Airman can do,” said Staff Sgt. Zachary Nordstrom, 19th MDSS pharmacy technician. “The pharmacy makes sure to take care of those family members as if they were our own flesh and blood.”

The deployed member can then focus on the mission. We just want them to know that if their family members get sick, they have that service there to take care of them, said Nordstrom.

All of these efforts are put forward with the desire to further the Little Rock Air Force Base mission of Combat Airlift and always staying mission ready.

“We help maintain mission readiness by making sure everybody is fit to fight,” Winnert said.

For more information, call the base pharmacy at 501-987-7446. 

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