FORT SILL, Okla. Aug. 13, 2015 -- As everyone knows a part of the Army life is transition. Soldiers spend their careers traveling from one installation to another, making new friends and creating strong bonds. Rarely does one get the opportunity to spend a portion of their career in their home town or state.
Col. Kenneth Lemons, the new Reynolds Army Community Hospital commander here, got that opportunity as he settles into his leadership duties.
"I was not born in Oklahoma," said Lemons, "my family moved to Del City when I was three years old due to my father being stationed at Tinker Air Force Base. He then retired and we stayed in Oklahoma."
A graduate of Del City High School, Lemons began his military career in 1988 as a 98H Morse Code Operator at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. In 1990 he received a Green-to-Gold scholarship and graduated as the distinguished military graduate from the Oklahoma Christian University's ROTC program as a second lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps.
"I am not a stranger of how hard it is to move your family from place to place every few years, one thing that I have noticed is that oftentimes important things get unintentionally pushed to the wayside during a PCS move, and one of those important things tends to be health care continuity," he said.
A diehard Sooner fan, Lemons reiterated his commitment to Oklahoma and to the Reynolds Army Community Hospital family.
"It is wonderful to be back in Boomer Sooner country, I am proud to be from Oklahoma and proud to take command of an exceptional organization like RACH. Reynolds has an excellent track record for patient safety and care, and I intend to continue the trust and integrity we have established with Fort Sill and the Lawton community."
A major component of Lemons' command philosophy is setting the example for health.
"During my time as an O/C (observer controller) at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, I would tell the units that I observed, 'What you allow, you teach. What you teach becomes the standard.' We in the medical community must set the example for taking control of your health care. I spent the first 17 years of my military career not being an active partner in my health care, and now I see the results of what that does to your health in the long term.
"Our motto here at RACH is, 'Partnering with you to provide a premier healthcare experience' and I want all our beneficiaries to be educated and empowered with the tools they need to maintain and improve their health," he said.
Some tools that are available to all TRICARE enrollees are TRICARE Online, where beneficiaries may schedule appointments, refill and check the status of prescriptions, view personal health data and lab results, and change primary care managers (PCM).
Secure messaging is also available as a safe means to communicate with your PCM and care team. With secure messaging you can request prescription renewals, receive test and laboratory results, request appointments and referrals, and consult with your medical team regarding nonurgent health matters.
The hospital appointment line at 580-558-2000 is also available to assist you with scheduling or canceling and appointments.
"I cannot stress TRICARE Online enough," said Lemons. "I use it to improve the quality of my own health care needs and I strongly encourage every TRICARE are enrollee to do the same."
TRICARE Online can be access at www.tricareonline.com and for more information regarding any service offered at Reynolds Community Hospital visit the webpage or call the information line at 580-558-2000.
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