7 MDG services affected by deployments

Published Nov. 16, 2009
By Airman 1st Class Robert Hicks
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Due to medical technician deployments, the 7th Medical Group has limited services and discontinued ambulance services indefinitely.

The 7 MDG has more than 15 Airmen deployed until March 2010. Of those, more than 10 are directly involved in patient care in the clinic or ambulance service.

"The fire department will respond as first responders to all medical calls," said 7th Medical Operations Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Gretchen England. "The fire department has a direct line to MetroCare, so the fire department dispatcher will contact MetroCare for all medical calls."

According to Colonel England, response time from MetroCare should not be impacted.

"Per the Abilene city code, ambulances are to respond to emergency requests 90 percent of the time, in under 10 minutes and 59 seconds," she added. "MetroCare's average response time to Dyess has historically been around 8 to 9 minutes."

In case of medical emergency, call 911.

For more information, call (325) 696-2347.