LANDSTUHL, Germany - Landstuhl Regional Medical Center will be hosting appointment-based Back To School Physicals at the hospital's Heaton Auditorium, Aug. 24 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will afford parents an opportunity to conduct last-minute school and sports physicals before the start of the school year but parents are urged not to wait until the 24th and schedule an appointment during regular clinic hours if possible.

The LRMC Pediatrics Clinic, which typically only provides services to TRICARE Prime beneficiaries empaneled to the clinic, will open the school physicals to all students in U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland Pfalz and Ramstein Air Base, regardless of their sponsor's branch of service or whether they are military or civilian.

Non-TRICARE beneficiaries will need to complete a third-party insurance form for billing purposes. Additionally, while the event is open to them, non-TRICARE beneficiaries should follow-up with their regular primary care provider if recommended by the doctor or nurse practitioner.

NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR PRIMARY CARE

Col. Richard Kynion, the chief medical officer at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, wants parents to know that this Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) style school physicals event does not replace routine appointments with a primary care provider.

"The point of this event is simply to ensure that the child is fit to participate in school activities," said Kynion, a pediatrician who also serves as the deputy commander for medical services at LRMC. "Yes, your child will go through stations for things like hearing and vision tests, but he or she will also have time with a provider who will give a more thorough examination for the purposes of the school physical."

Kynion noted that his experience with mass school physical events at other military medical treatment facilities usually uncover medical issues of which parents and children were not aware. Should that occur, Kynion advises that parents book follow-up appointments with the child's primary care provider.

"Because we anticipate a station-to-station type of event, and we want to get parents and children in and out as quickly as possible without compromising the quality and safety of our healthcare delivery, children may not be examined by their normal primary care provider, and the doctor or nurse practitioner administering the exam won't know the child's medical history," said Kynion. "It is important for parents to follow-up with their child's PCM should a provider at the event recommend it."

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