Future of MacDill medical clinic debated

The Tampa Tribune / TBO.com

Military News

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TAMPA — Active duty service members, retirees and their dependents have come to rely on the MacDill Air Force Base medical clinic in Brandon, which serves about 18,000 patients a year.

But now the 6th Air Mobility Wing, the base host unit, is looking at whether it should replace the clinic or add an additional one in the area. And it is reaching out to local businesses to offer solutions.

Late last year, the base put out a request for information for a contractor-owned, contractor-operated medical treatment center in four categories — ranging from about 5,000 beneficiaries to about 20,000 within 15 miles of the 33547 Lithia-area ZIP code. Interested parties have until Friday to respond.

The request is not binding, and there is no contract being issued yet.

It is “an effort to improve access and accommodate potential growth opportunities for our market,” said Terry Montrose, a wing spokesman.

The Brandon clinic, which the wing rents, is part of the 6th Medical Group, based at MacDill. The 6th Medical Group, which includes the clinic on base, serves the Defense Department’s largest healthcare market — the 6th Air Mobility Wing, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, and other mission partners.

The group provides administrative, logistics and medical support to 220,000 beneficiaries.

Each day, more than 200 patients visit the Brandon clinic at 220 Grand Regency Blvd. for primary care, internal medicine, pediatrics and women’s health treatment. And each day, the lab runs nearly 400 tests, the pharmacy issues more than 330 prescriptions and about five radiology tests are conducted.

Like the one on base, the Brandon clinic is open to active duty personnel, retirees and dependents.

The 6th Medical Group is looking to “provide expanded primary care services in our local communities,” according to the request.

Unlike the existing clinic, the center outlined in the request would be owned and operated by a contractor. The base, however, would maintain a presence in the form of a non-commissioned officer to oversee IT and medical equipment and someone to work with the vendor to “represent government views on quality assurance/risk management issues,” according to the request.

The 6th Medical Group also will provide medical equipment, which the vendor would be responsible to maintain and repair, as well as secure communications between the clinic and the base.

Based on past history, 55 percent of the patients are female and children between 5 and 17 and adults 50 to 64 are the most common age groups.

The average demand is 2.25 to 2.5 visits a year per patient, according to the request.

Aside from stating where the clinic would be located, interested parties must also explain what kind of security measures would be provided, as well as the parking availability and ensuring the requisite number of handicapped accessible parking spots.

Because the patients are affiliated with the military, the request asks vendors to consider security precautions like access control, sub-waiting rooms to avoid large groups of people in a single area, and on-site security.

The Brandon clinic is the 6th Medical Group’s only satellite center.

Louis Arana-Barradas, Jr, 63, a retired Air Force master sergeant living in Valrico, said the clinic is a great benefit especially for older retirees.

“A lot of people have a hard time getting all the way to the base,” said Arana-Barradas, president of the local chapter of The Retired Enlisted Association, which represents service members below the rank of officer. “As president of the association, I know a lot of people who appreciate having the clinic here.”