Wall-Breaking Ceremony commemorates new phase

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephanie Englar
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The 14th Medical Group held a wall-breaking ceremony Sept. 6 outside the Koritz Clinic to commemorate the opening of the temporary medical facility as the current clinic, undergoes extensive renovations.

"The Wall breaking ceremony signifies the end of services and the transition to the temporary facility as we begin renovations," said Col. Billye Hutchison, 14th Medical Group Commander. "We are taking the facility down to the studs and making it brand new inside."

The Koritz Clinic started as a hospital in the late 1950's and has had only a few modifications done to the building. Today it is a small outpatient clinic that supports the 14th Flying Training Wing and manages the day-to-day health care needs of the base.

"It's an old hospital facility; it has the maze of hallways to places we just don't use anymore," said Hutchison. "This renovation will greatly increase operational efficiency and provide better access to different departments for our patients."

Hutchison said that the overall renovation project will take about three years, in which the building will become much more efficient. It will be more energy efficient, provide easier access to patients and provide more space for the Pharmacy. The Dental Clinic will also be moved in to the Koritz Clinic, but that will be later on in the final phase of the renovation process.

"Medical services in the Air Force have transformed over the years so this really brings us up to the type of service we need to deliver now, and the facility that makes that happen," said Hutchison. "Bear with us, there are going to be some challenging times and some confusion, however, when this is finished this is going to be an amazing building."

On the days listed below, the following services will move to the temporary facility. Services in these areas will not be available on move days except as noted below:

Sept. 7 - Public Health
Sept. 8 - Medical Records
Sept. 9 - Tricare Service Center (800-444-5445 available for customer
support)
Sept. 10 - Beneficiary Services (Will not close while clinic is open)
Sept. 13 - Clinic and patient services will be closed
Sept. 16 - Clinic closed until 1 p.m.
Sept. 16 - 14th MDG will reopen at 1 p.m. for phase one of the renovation

Laboratory, Physical Therapy, Radiology, Optometry, and Mental Health services will remain in their current locations in the main clinic, building 1100.