CAMP ZAMA, Japan (Dec 10, 2015) -- Col. William B. Johnson and Command Sgt. Maj. Rosalba Dumont-Carrion, commander and command sergeant major of U.S. Army Garrison Japan, respectively, along with Mikio Endo, mayor of Zama City, toured Zama General Hospital Dec. 1 to see construction progress.

Johnson said the hospital has a very impressive design with the latest state-of-the-art equipment, and the layout incorporates modern hospital design techniques.

"Having a world-class facility right outside of our gate will provide a much quicker response time in the event of emergency," said Johnson.

Zama General Hospital is being constructed on the joint-use land area right outside the Camp Zama installation. Johnson said representatives from Camp Zama and Zama City have been working closely together on an arrangement on the future use and access of the hospital.

"It's a great symbol of partnership between the Camp Zama community and Zama City community," said Johnson.

Mikio Endo, mayor of Zama City, said the community is grateful to be able to build on the land that is planned to be returned to the government of Japan in the near future.

"We will be able to help each other by having a hospital right next to the Camp Zama community and the Japan Ground Self-Defense. It is a symbolic project for us to be able to strengthen relationships and collaborations within the neighbored communities," said Endo.

Watari Jun, director of Zama General Hospital, said the hospital is scheduled to open April 2016.

The motto of the hospital is to provide "customer service with smile" for the patient and their families said Jun.

"The tour was wonderful," said Dumont-Carrion.

To have the opportunity to walk through the hospital, and see the assets that will be located within the community - to have the community so close to the hospital - "it will truly help," said Dumont-Carrion.

Many times, community members have to drive to different locations to have access to care, said Dumont-Carrion. However, with this new hospital, community members will be able to access care in such a small proximity of time.

"I am a medical noncommissioned officer, combat medic by trade," said Dumont-Carrion. "Medical evacuation is something that I am always concerned (about)."

Anytime any type of urgent care is needed, Dumont-Carrion said her thought process is, "How long is the patient going to be able to get to the next hospital for better care if the facility is not to able to have that?"

Dumont-Carrion said that it was nice for someone of her expertise to be present and was available to speak for the community during the tour and to get answers to what kind of different services will be available.

Dumont-Carrion said she was very proud see how Americans and Japanese worked well together as one team to take care of each other.

"At the end of the day, it is about taking care of the families who can become patients of the hospital," she said.