By Jeff Dessert Newton County Times
HARRISON — A contingent of U.S. Army Reserve officers and personnel was in Harrison on Tuesday, March 19, planning an Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) mission, officially named Ozark Wellness. This medical mission, conducted on the Jasper School and Kingston School campuses, provides training opportunities for Army Reserve medical units and provides ancillary benefits to local residents through free medical care.
Services offered include optometry, physical exams, dentistry, veterinary care, public health education, behavioral health, and even religious services. Care will be provided by qualified health care providers and no one will be turned away. No insurance card or identity verification documents are required.
Attending the planning meeting held in the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District (NWAEDD) conference room were Sergeant Major Rebecca Rose, 811th Hospital Center Operations/Planner. Maj. Tahnee Nimsakonto, 325th Field Hospital Operations/Planner. Capt. Ryan R. Kiger, 807th Medical Corps G-2/5 Project, and Lt. Col. Christine Porter, 807th Medical Corps Public Affairs.
Tina M. Cole, community development coordinator for Harrison-based NWAEDD, worked with Army Reserve personnel and arranged the mission’s planning meetings.
The official mission schedule is set for July 14th to 28th.
Vehicles carrying the mobile kitchen and necessary supplies will begin arriving on the 14th. Staff will arrive on campus on the 14th and will begin providing services with a soft opening for local volunteers at noon on the 16th. The first full day of service for the public will begin on the 17th, and health care providers will continue seeing patients through the 25th.
Physicians and other health care providers come from units located throughout the United States. Their personal qualifications, qualifications, and privileges will be transferred to and recognized in the State of Arkansas.
Approximately 100 military personnel are expected to participate in the mission. If necessary he will be conducted on two campuses. Nimsakonto said patient check-in hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and patient check-in will close at 4 p.m.
Providers offer the same services at both locations, so residents can access the services they need closest to home.
Rose said the infrastructure at both campuses is well suited to the needs of the mission. No additional power, running water or toilets are required.
Historically, medical missions can see 80 to 90 patients a day. Dental and optometry services are most sought after by community participants. The veterinary staff typically sees 12 to 15 pets in a day. Nimsakonto said that number is determined by the number of pets that come in just for checkups and the number of pets brought in for spay/neuter surgeries.
Mission medical providers also work closely with local medical clinics and providers. In some cases, patients may be referred to local doctors or specialists if necessary. Coordination will also be made with local health care providers and local pharmacies to assist patients with prescription drug needs.
Porter said the mission focuses on partnerships between the military and various sectors of the communities it serves.
Because the area surrounding the two school campuses is rural and isolated, it is believed that transportation may be the greatest obstacle to mission success. Cole said the North Arkansas Transit System (NATS) is expected to help bring patients to campus. Other transportation options include school buses and community ride-sharing initiatives.
Mission personnel are allowed to eat breakfast and lunch each day, but only meals ready-to-eat (MRE) are provided for dinner. Mr Porter said volunteer groups in the area would be welcome to provide hot meals at the end of each day.
Cole said it’s great to have volunteers on campus during the mission to provide child care while parents get the services they need.
Local food pantries may be asked to provide food, water, and snacks to patients during IRT.
Veterans of these missions look forward to having the opportunity to participate in another mission. First-timers can often finish a mission with a sense of fulfillment. Not only are they receiving the necessary training, but they are also serving the community, Kiger said.
Kiger said communities apply for IRTs through the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In this case, NWAEDD, through Cole’s individual efforts, has made multiple applications in the past to bring her IRT to the Jasper and Kingston communities. The number of missions is determined by the department’s budget. Missions are matched with community partners.
Several planning sessions will be held, including on Tuesdays, to coordinate the mission. Cole said it could include meetings with mission representatives and local stakeholders.
Special visitor days are typically held during missions, when state and local officials and other community stakeholders are taken on a tour of the facility. They are given information about the needs of the community that the mission has identified and how those needs can be addressed.
