Camp Darby is a small installation with a community of American military, civilian employees and their families, and American retirees. As a satellite location several hours from USAG-Italy headquarters in Vicenza, this community does not have access to on-base medical care. Instead, they must rely on the Italian economy for medical treatment. This can be a daunting challenge for those who don’t speak fluent Italian or who are unfamiliar with the process. Fortunately, the Camp Darby Patient Liaisons are there to make sure quality medical care is accessible for all Darby Military Community members.
To schedule an appointment, community members simply call the Liaisons at +39 050-965-8255 or email darbypatientliaison@army.mil A Liaison will listen to what you need and explain the various options. When you’re ready, they’ll also contact the medical provider and schedule the appointment. When the time comes, a Liaison will meet you at the clinic, walk you through the check-in process, and translate your medical appointment so you understand everything the doctor says. The Liaisons help with everything from preventative care to well child checks, lab work to surgery and ongoing treatment.
"The Patient Liaisons help the American community here at Camp Darby navigate what can be a very complex medical system,” said Camp Darby Deputy Garrison Manager Timothy Andersen. “The translation services and coordination of care they offer are invaluable to our community members, ensuring they can access the medical care they need, and understand the health care options available and the medical treatments provided by the Host Nation Medical Facilities. Additionally, the Patient Liaisons provide a sense of familiarity and support throughout the process that can be especially beneficial for our community, living in a foreign country, so far from home."
The Patient Liaison program has been an essential fixture at Camp Darby for 40 years. The program began unofficially in the 1980’s when a radiology technician at the on-base clinic took on the additional duty of acting as a “liaison” for patients. The first official Patient Liaison was hired in 1990. Over the next few years, they were joined by two more Patient Liaisons, an interpreter and a translator.
Today, the Darby Military Community is served by four Patient Liaisons. Not only do the Liaisons help navigate the technicalities of receiving care and translate throughout the process, they’re also an advocate during what can be an intimidating time. Lead Patient Liaison Barbara Lama recalled one Soldier who needed to be treated for an injury. “He was so young and so far away from home,” she said. “He just needed someone to stand by him and get him through it. That’s also an important part of what we do.”
For more information on Patient Liaison services, contact +39 050-965-8255 or darbypatientliaison@army.mil.
For medical emergencies, contact 112 from an outside line.
To reach the Liaisons for emergencies after hours, call +39 335-832-6778.
To contact the Military Police (MP) desk, call 911 from a DSN phone or +39 050 965 8296 from an outside line.
To call an Italian ambulance, dial 118 from an outside line, then notify the MP desk.
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