KMC healthcare takes joint turn Published June 7, 2006 By Capt Jennifer Lovett USAFENS RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- All primary medical care for Airmen and Soldiers of the Kaiserslautern Military Community will soon be located in one place with all specialty care located in another. A joint vision statement signed June 2 by Brig. Gen. Carla Hawley-Bowland, Europe Regional Medical Command commander, and Col. Mark Ediger, U.S. Air Forces in Europe surgeon general, details the joint-service integrated delivery of healthcare that should streamline the current healthcare process for the KMC by summer 2008. “The ultimate goal is that there is no duplication of effort in order to give our patients efficient healthcare,” said General Hawley-Bowland. “We want to create a continuity of care.” All patients of the KMC will report to the Ramstein clinic for their primary care and to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for their specialty care. “This process is already happening,” said Colonel Ediger. “We are already trying to streamline most patients to the Ramstein clinic and with the opening of the clinic addition, that process should be complete.” The clinic addition is set to begin construction before the fall. “The addition should be complete by next summer, and we anticipate all patients migrating to the Ramstein clinic within the next 12 to 24 months,” said Maj. Melissa Checotah, USAFE surgeon general’s office. “The addition allows pediatrics and pharmacy to consolidate in the new building and open up more exam rooms in the existing facility.” Possible long-term future plans include a new Ramstein clinic that will replace the existing base exchange and for LRMC to add another tower.