PRP changes streamline procedures

by Senior Airman Jannelle Dickey
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

10/1/2015 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  -- The 2nd Medical Group Medical Treatment Facility will implement changes here Oct. 1 to simplify procedures for

Personnel Reliability Program members.

With the change, PRP members are no longer required to check in and out of the PRP clinic prior to medical appointments, nor will they wear a PRP badge and carry paper records around the facility.

"The changes are beneficial  because PRP members will spend significantly less time in the medical facility for an appointment and will be able to return to their work center quicker," said Col. Scott Price, 2nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander.

The changes also allow the member to have a role in their medical care, in addition to the relief of reduced administrative burden thanks to electronic documentation.

"The PRP program is focused on personal responsibility. It's a requirement that all individuals on PRP report any factors that may impact the PRP member's ability or reliability to perform the PRP mission to their certifying official," Price said. "These factors include not only medical conditions and medications but also financial, social, legal, et cetera."

It's still the member's responsibility to identify themselves as PRP members at each appointment to ensure proper procedures and reports are accomplished. Procedures will remain the same for preventative health assessments and filling prescriptions.

"After PRP members complete a preventative health assessment, they have to report to the PRP clinic for a note review," said Cynthia Brooks, 2nd AMDS medical treatment facility monitor. "If prescriptions are received from an off-base provider, the PRP clinic will need to review it before it can be filled at the medical facility pharmacy."

Brooks stated that PRP is a commander's program and it's the responsibility of the member to communicate with their certifying officials.

"We are here to support the mission of the personnel reliability program," she said. "We ensure they are medically capable and reliable to perform PRP duties; however, it is ultimately on the member to make sure their commander is aware of any medical issues."

The system improvements of putting more control in the member's hands while reducing time spent in medical facilities are steps in the right direction to encourage Airmen to seek medical care to remain fit to fight.