F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- When it comes to medical issues, Airmen know they can rely on the 90th Medical Group to provide the care needed - whether it's prescribing medicine, caring for injuries or issuing immunizations.

What most Airmen don't know is the 90th MDG doesn't function on its own. When it comes to being prepared to provide care to Airmen, the group relies on the Medical Services Corp. and the 4As - the medical administration Airmen - to ensure it happens.

"The MSCs and the 4As are responsible for everything except the actual care and treatment," said Lt. Col. Joyce Beaty, 90th Medical Support Squadron commander. "They are the ones who get the patient and the doctor into the same room - from referrals to check-ins to appointment scheduling - and then any follow-up appointments or network care - lab work, radiology and pharmacy."

The 90th MDSS is mainly made up of the MSC and 4As.

"The [90th] MDSS is the support network for the med. group," said 2nd Lt. Janelle Holland, 90th MDSS. "We make sure the doctors have the equipment and the resources necessary to do their jobs."

These Airmen are responsible for a variety of jobs that help keep the clinic functioning on a daily basis.

"The medical group can't function alone without the support squadron," said Capt. Sean Hoskins, 90th MDG group practice manager. "There are six functional areas of the support squadron: information systems department, the resource management office, the logistics office, the medical readiness office, Tri-care Operations and Patient Administration, and the group practice managers."

The squadron's many functions must operate in concert to ensure the entire group works efficiently to support patient care.

The information systems department handles the technical equipment including hardware and software and training; the resource management office deals with money management; the logistics office oversees the equipment inventory, medical contract management and supply chain management; the medical readiness office handles emergency management, deployment preparation and exercise planning; TOPA oversees the health benefit network care, Medical Evaluation Boards and the Exceptional
Family Member Program; and the Group Practice Managers handle the execution of the business plan.

The TOPA office is one of the bigger functional areas with a total of seven areas within the one office, said Master Sgt. Stephen Griffin, 90th MDSS.

"We handle everything from patient travel expenses, enrollment into the Composite Health Care System, which has all the information on patients and assigns them a doctor," said Airman 1st Class Haley Hunt, 90th MDSS TOPA clerk. "We handle the out processing clearances for Airmen traveling to a new base and require specific medical care for themselves or their families. We are very important because we are the support for the medical group by handling most of the paperwork."

As pieces of the puzzle work together effortlessly, the men and women of the 90th MDSS accomplish their mission of helping the 90th MDG provide the quality care that the Airmen of F.E. Warren require to stay in top readiness form.