AF liaison officers help smooth the process for AF LRMC patients

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Elizabeth Baker
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LANSTUHL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, Germany --  For U.S. Air Force personnel and their dependents, the process of receiving care at the U.S. Army Landstuhl Regional Medical Center may be confusing. The Air Force LRMC Liaison Office exists to ensure that Air Force patients know that they are cared for by shepherding them through the process of reaching LRMC, receiving care, and either returning to duty or going back to their home of record.

As the largest U.S. military medical care facility in the world, LRMC has a lot of patients coming in and out. According to Tech. Sgt. Andres Martinez 86th Medical Squadron Air Force Liaison Office noncommissioned officer in charge, liaisons make sure everyone gets where they need to go, when they need to go.

“Normally we greet the patient, give them a tour of the facility, go over some basic rules and we provide their leadership with updates as far as what’s going on with their care and when they’re expected to return to duty,” Martinez said.

Martinez explained that the Air Force LRMC Liaison Office assists with non-clinical needs. That includes paperwork, patient advocacy and communication with home units. From understanding Army verbiage, to knowing where to stay while receiving care, having a member in a familiar uniform can help smooth over the process.

The program was created in 2002 to take care of personnel who are wounded during deployment and need to travel to LRMC for treatment. The program has expanded to care for patients at their home stations throughout U.S. Air Forces Europe, U.S. Air Forces Africa and U.S. Central Command.

“Usually when you come to a hospital it’s not under the best circumstances,” Martinez said. “We try to alleviate the additional stress that can come with having to travel here to see a specialist. Making sure people receive the right care in a timely manner is what makes this program important, especially for those patients who are critically ill.”

Martinez explained that for patients who are severely ill or wounded, the liaison office coordinates for family members to travel to the patient’s bedside and back. If a patient reaches the point where they can go back to their job, liaisons make sure that they are cleared for duty by Air Force standards.
With all those patients coming in and out, the job has its challenges.

“Especially for wounded warriors, every case is different so we can’t use the same approach to everything,” Martinez said.

Yet, Martinez said he finds the effort rewarding.

“No matter what day of the week it is, we’re always making somebody’s day better by helping them out,” Martinez said “We’re giving them a positive aspect in their stay.”

If needed, patients can contact the AF LRMC Liaison Office directly.

“We’re on call 24-7, 365 days a year,” Martinez said. “We can help facilitate for patients. They don’t have to be an extreme or rare situation to seek our help. We’ll get them in contact with the right person and get them the care they need.”