When does the responsibility of the Air Force commander typically end concerning a patient?

The responsibility of the Air Force commander concerning a patient typically ends once the patient moves to a different facility. This is because the transfer of care signifies that the patient is no longer under the direct oversight of the previous facility or command. Once a patient is transferred, the receiving facility takes on the responsibility for the patient's care, which includes the management of their medical treatment and any additional administrative oversight that might be required.

Prior to transfer, the commander is accountable for ensuring that the patient's needs are met and that appropriate care is provided. While discharge and clinical stability are important factors in a patient’s treatment journey, they do not necessarily denote the end of the commander's responsibility as a transfer to a new facility explicitly indicates a change in the chain of responsibility for that patient's care.