LANGLEY AFB, VA. –
The refurbished Bethel Clinic opened for business Monday, ending a month-long project designed to update and improve the facilities.
Clinic staff held an open house for Bethel Manor residents Sept. 19.
"We wanted to give the community an opportunity to come and see the changes and why we had to close down," said Maj. Zina Crump, 1st Medical Operations Squadron Bethel Clinic Element chief. "We basically got a face-lift. It's more inviting. It's not that drab look. It looks more like the hospital."
The project temporarily closed the Bethel Clinic, moving operations and patients to the 1st Fighter Wing Hospital and the Langley Clinic at NASA.
Major Crump said the results were worth the wait.
"The furniture is beautiful," she said. "I've never seen furniture like this in a clinic."
The 15-person staff worked overtime to make the move and take care of their patients at the same time, Major Crump said.
"My people worked really hard to make sure our patients were comfortable," she said.
Tech. Sgt. Nina Anderson, Bethel Clinic NCOIC, said the staff really came together.
"We all worked as a team," she said. "We literally packed up everything ourselves. We saw patients as we were packing."
Sergeant Anderson was due to move to the Langley Hospital, but she asked to stay one more week to see the clinic move through to the end.
"I've seen where Bethel has come from," she said. "We always thought it was special. I wanted Bethel to be its best when I left there."
Major Crump said the clinic feels different.
"It's a warmer feeling," she said. "A familiar feeling. It's not old and drab anymore."
The Bethel and NASA Clinics will see dependents and retirees while the Blue Clinic in the Langley Hospital will see Active Duty members only. For more information about the Bethel Clinic, call 225-7630 ext. 422.