When Ireland Army Health Clinic moves from its current, 61-year old building into its new, modern facility in January 2020, it will do so with an updated health care model and a renewed focus on military readiness. We are excited to report that the construction of the new health clinic continues to progress as scheduled and as planned.
As part of this transition and to ensure continued timely access to care, delivery of quality care, and a military readiness focus, Ireland is in the process of leveraging the local network for some of the specialty services currently offered.
Beginning this month and over the next several months, retired beneficiaries and their dependents will begin to witness changes as we transfer some of our services including behavioral health, physical / occupational therapy, radiology (MRI & CT services), and audiology services to our network partners.
In mid-March, Behavioral health will start transitioning retirees and their family members to the local network for care. The first group will be adolescent patients followed by adult family members spread over the next several months.
Beginning in April, physical therapy and optometry will start to transition retirees and their dependents to the local network, followed by MRI & CT services in the late summer and occupational therapy, and audiology in the fall.
But three services previously thought to be discontinued will now remain even after we move to the new clinic. The allergy clinic will continue to be available for ALL beneficiaries including retirees. In addition, nutrition care and clinical pharmacy will continue to see retirees as well.
According to Ms. Teddi Gray, the administrative officer for the deputy commander for clinical services, nutrition care and clinical pharmacy--both of which see patients for counseling about issues like diabetes and conditions that need blood thinners such as Coumadin--can continue to see retirees and their family members on a space available basis, as services under Preventive Medicine.
"These are also services that our beneficiaries aren't covered for in the network," she noted.
Lt. Col. Peter Markot, the deputy commanding officer, said that the command team continues to remind beneficiaries that even though several services are changing, the pharmacy will continue to provide prescriptions and refills to all Tricare beneficiaries.
"We are also still seeing retirees in the laboratory on a space available basis for as long as we can," he noted.
He added that transitioning beneficiaries are encouraged to visit the IRAHC Beneficiary Transition Cell for assistance with changes, and that the staff can assist with details such as locating a provider convenient to them; transferring medical records, and coordinating exit appointments.
For more information call the BTC at 502-624-0278 or email them at usarmy.knox.medcom-irach.mbx.beneficiary-transition-cell@mail.mil. They are located in the basement of the clinic, in the old emergency room area.
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