Fairchild starts new Human Performance Cell program

Keeping airmen healthy on Fairchild Air Force Base is quite the task, but the 92nd Medical Group started an innovative program in the beginning of the year to help support full-spectrum readiness. Team Fairchild's "Human Performance Cell" (HPC) begun earlier this year and is taking a holistic approach to help combat chronic injuries that can help airmen get back to the fight and defend the country.

HPC is composed of a multitude of medical specialist that deliver a one-on-one, personalized care to address specific physical demands and to change the culture of each group within the 92nd Air Refueling Wing by using this more proactive approach.

The way that it works is the Air Force is integrating medical support into certain units that ranges anywhere from a strength coach to helping with performance.

"It is focusing more on enhancing performance and prevention," Maj. Jeffrey Smith, the mental health flight commander from the 92nd Medical Group, said. "We (the Air Force) are here to achieve a mission and win the fight."

The team has a lot of shoes to fill including a primary care manager, orthopedic provider, physical therapist and their assistants, as well as the Behavior Health Optimization Program, a psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, registered dietitian, strength and conditioning coach and an aerospace physiologist.

"It is amazing that we are part of the strategic planning here," Smith said. "We help one another through discipline and help people reach their ultimate goal. We are integrated as a unit and as a team."

Smith is also part of working with airmen on their habits and behaviors and how they can affect somebody's health. He helps with setting goals for certain patients and helps plan how to achieve them.

The program currently has airmen that have a variety of jobs ranging from flyers, maintainers, civil engineers and medical personnel.

"HPC's treatment plans assist in restoring functionality to common and recurring musculoskeletal injuries that airmen commonly endure," William Saultes, the 92nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion coordinator said. "The program transitions airmen from injury rehabilitation to improving strength and flexibility of weak areas, preparing them to remain deployable while maximizing their unit's mission capabilities."

Saultes has multiple hats to wear throughout this new organization as he collects and shows the data coming from the program. Along with that role, he is also a strength and conditioning coach for the airmen.

Along with helping the airmen physically, the program studies their sleeping habits and how they operate at their workplace.

For airmen to qualify for the program the medical staff evaluates several factors of the injury including the severity and longevity of the injury, past and present exemptions and it also requires commander approval.

One of the first patients to go through the program was Master Sgt. Shawn Merritt, who works at the 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron sortie support flight chief.

"I've had multiple surgeries due mostly to the normal wear and tear of working on the flight line as a maintainer," Merritt said. "I was extremely excited to find out that I was going to participate in an all-in-one treatment plan in an effort to get me back to full-duty status."

Grace Pohl can be reached at [email protected].