Healthcare needs for Eielson newcomers

  • Published
  • By Maj. Karen Kirk
  • 354th Medical Group
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The 354th Medical Group is here to serve our patient population here at Eielson Air Force Base.

The first priority for newcomers should include a visit to the Medical Clinic on Central Avenue to enroll with TRICARE/Tri West.

The second priority for new arrivals is to attend the 354 MDG newcomers orientation. This is a mandatory appointment that provides vital information regarding your health care benefits. Having already enrolled with Tri West, you will have immediate access to benefits offered to you.

The orientation is held every other Tuesday from September through May, and every Tuesday during the summer months. The orientation convenes in the clinic's training room from 1 to 4 p.m. Newcomers will find signs to the training room upon entering the clinic.

The medical staff highly encourages all newcomers to bring their spouse to the orientation as spouses are often the chief care providers for children and will gain insight as to how to access medical services by attending. One of the clinic's unique services, the Self-Initiated Care Kit, or SICK, is discussed during the orientation.

Attendees to the orientation course receive a "Take Care of Yourself" book, an empowered spirit, and a SICK Card that will allow them to receive certain over the counter medications from our pharmacy without being seen by a physician.

Due to the remote location of Eielson, access to specialty care is a challenge. As such, the clinic collaborates with Elmendorf Air Force Base to bring specialty physicians such as Endocrinology, Dermatology, Podiatry, and Woman's Health Nurse Practitioner to Eielson on a quarterly basis.

The 354th Medical Group is continuously seeking ways to improve the delivery of its health care services. We have a 'customer feedback kiosk,' a computer in the Family Health waiting room that allows you to send feedback directly to the Air Force Surgeon General, who then relays the feedback back to the Eielson clinic. Please provide feedback and ideas. Contact Maj. Karen Kirk, Health Care Integrator, at 377-6529 or any member of our "Ice Medic" staff if you have questions.