The United States military has its eye on improving oral healthcare as it broke ground on a new facility on the site of the old 3rd Marines Regimental Aid Station in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, on Tuesday, November 8. The 96,870-square-foot medical and dental clinic will provide Navy Medicine and Marine Forces medical staff with a world-class Joint Commission-certified facility to care for active duty service members, their families, and retirees.
“What today represents is a commitment by our government and by the taxpayers to raise the bar for the care that we are able to deliver to the Marine Corps and the Navy members and our partners in the Air Force and the Army,” said Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham, Medical Corps, Commander, Navy Medicine West, who spoke at the ceremony. “The commitment will be symbolized by this facility, but it is important to recognize that as beautiful as this facility will be, it will only be meeting the standards that are already delivered.”
The clinic will consolidate 5 separate outdated provider locations into a single, 2-story state of the art facility designed to deliver highly reliable, patient-centered quality medical and dental care. It also has been designed to enhance customer service by locating the high-volume Patient Centered Medical Home on its first floor and the Marine Centered Medical Home, Wing Flight Medicine, and the 21st Dental Company on the second floor.
“In my mind, this facility will represent the Navy Medicine team, Marine Corps personnel, and dental personnel all coming together to provide the best care possible to Marine Corps Base Hawaii,” said Capt. Lynn Wheeler, Medical Service Corps, Commanding Officer, Naval Health Clinic Hawaii.
The facility also will house primary care, physical therapy, optometry, radiology, immunization, occupational health, preventive medicine, audiology, and behavioral health clinics in addition to a laboratory, pharmacy, and training area. Navy personnel working in the previous medical center have been patiently waiting for a much needed upgrade, according to Maine Corps Col. Sean Killean, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
“This facility will bring our base into the 21st century when it comes to medical care,” said Killean. “This new facility will help with not only processing Marines and Sailors, but will also provide care for their families who live here.”
Naval Facilities Engineering Command awarded the $79.7 million Defense Health Agency-sponsored project to the Caddell–Nan Joint Venture in August, with an eye on providing the best working environment and responsible and sustainable design features to maximize energy efficiency. Construction is expected to be complete in December 2018. After a short medical equipment outfitting period, the clinic will begin to see patients in April 2019.
“The opportunity to have this awesome facility in addition to the great care that we already provide raises the bar for everyone,” said Wheeler. “I am looking forward to that tremendous facility to be ready for all our beneficiaries.”
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