JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
The 779th Medical Operations Squadron pediatrics team provides timely, quality care to beneficiaries' children, from a newborn's first checkup to a 17 year-old's flu vaccine.
"This is the first place a baby will get a check-up after being discharged from the hospital," said Senior Airman Nancy Morency, 779th MDOS aerospace medical technician. "It's really rewarding to watch kids develop and grow."
The clinic's physicians and nurse practitioners conduct regular checkups, school physicals and take appointments for seasonal illnesses like influenza and allergies. Sub-specialists from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center also reserve some time for appointments at the clinic for the convenience of patients.
Currently, the clinic is gearing up for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, a respiratory virus infecting the lungs and airway. RSV often manifests with mild, cold-like symptoms. Healthy people can recover in a week or two, but the disease can be more serious in infants and older adults.
"The doctors want to provide top-notch care, so we stay sharp and work hard to keep the kids healthy," Morency said.
To prevent the spread of disease, the clinic encourages regularly washing your hands and coughing or sneezing in your elbow.
The clinic sees approximately 22,000 patients a year, along with about 4,000 walk-ins.
Walk-in times for immunizations and strep throat cultures are from 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. on Fridays.
The clinic recommends MiCare Secure Messaging, an online service that offers an efficient, secure online exchange between patients and their healthcare team including: appointment scheduling, medication renewal, test and lab results and more.
Non-urgent medical advice is available from the Nurse Advice Hotline at: (800) 874-2273.
The clinic has also implemented the "Reach Out and Read" program, giving out children's books to patients aged 6 months old to 6 years old.
But, for Morency, the most joy comes from the health and well-being of the children.
"I love interacting with the patients and seeing them grow up," Morency said. "Seeing a 1 or 2 day old patient come back for their 1 year check-up walking and smiling makes my day."