Richmond Hill After-hours clinic, opens for care
Kaytrina Curtis
Winn ACH Public Affairs
Since April 17, Tricare beneficiaries have had the convenience of visiting the After Hours Clinic at the US Army Medical Department Activity’s Richmond Hill Medical Home for their urgent care needs.
US Army MEDDAC is getting out in front of National Defense Authorization Act requirements to allow for room to evaluate the demand of services and make necessary adjustments before the official rollout nation-wide.
Patient satisfaction is at the forefront of the pilot program and was started because of information in the National Defense Authorization Act, which discussed afterhours access to care for area beneficiaries. As a plus, the Richmond Hill Medical Home AHC offers both walk-ins and appointments.
Before opening the AHC, most of the data studied showed many of the out-of-network urgent care visits were afterhours. Consideration was also given for parents who may work or volunteer outside the home during the work day. With situational illnesses, such as a fever or with complaints from their child just not feeling well, parents now have an authorized facility for this type of care. The AHC gives area beneficiaries an alternative other than a visit to the Winn Amy Community Hospital emergency room for non-emergent care.
“So you look at the hours of the urgent care clinics and the locations, it just made sense that Richmond Hill would be the best location for the numbers that we were seeing,” said Benjamin Ernst, Richmond HMH, Group Practice Manger, Department of Primary Care.
The clinic is open to all Tricare Prime enrollees to include active-duty service members, so many parents find the services offered not only convenient, but necessary.
“Patient response has been very positive,” said Supervisory Head Nurse, Myriam I. Cases. “Many Soldiers and spouses aren’t able to get their children in for sore throats and earaches during the workday and the afterhours clinic hours of operation make care very accessible.”
Cases also added, in addition to seeing students for school screenings, they have also seen beneficiaries for sore throats, runny noses, earaches, female issues, back pain and gastro intestinal symptoms as well.
For continuity of care, it is recommended that patients go to their primary care doctor for routine visits or immunizations and advice, along with well babies or well child visits. But in a situation where that is not possible, patients can walk in or schedule a visit with the RHMH After-Hours clinic. All of the patient feedback received so far has been positive and any patient and staff suggestions are being forwarded to management.
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“The Command Leadership and the Department of Primary care is very excited about this opportunity to be able to show the patients that we care about them,” Ernst said. “We care about how their lifestyle is affected and what we can do to provide for their care.”
To be seen at the RHMH AHC, beneficiaries or caregivers need to bring their military ID card, third party insurance verification, and if necessary, a medical power of attorney. For now the AHC is open from 5 to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, with the last appointment for the day slated for 8:40 p.m. To make an appointment for the after-hours clinic, call 912-435-6633.
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