Medical And Dental
Fort Benning: Medical And Dental

The Columbus, GA/Phenix City, AL area offers a wide diversity of medical facilities, to include an orthopedic/sports medicine teaching hospital, dialysis treatment clinics, several psychiatric facilities with both inpatient and outpatient care available, chemical dependency rehabilitation centers, cancer research and treatment center, a specialized coronary care hospital offering extensive cardiovascular surgical procedures, and local/regional critical care hospitals and trauma centers.

Martin Army Community Hospital, Ft Benning, is a medical facility that provides an extensive variety of inpatient and outpatient medical services to eligible military medical beneficiaries, which includes all active duty. Most active duty dependents, retirees and their dependents, and surviving spouses can receive care on a space available basis. The main hospital and most outpatient clinics are in Bldg 9200 at the intersection of Lindsay Creek Expressway and Marne Rd near the PX-commissary mall.

The Victory Clinic (Family Practice Clinic) is located in Martin Army Community Hospital and is open to active duty family members, military retirees and their families, and families of deceased military who have selected the Tri-Care Program and registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). ort Benning Post Guide
Medical Services

* U.S. Army Medical Department
* Hospital Volunteers
* Insurance Registration
* Medical Identification Cards
* Medical Power of Attorney
* Medical Records
* Patent Affairs Liaison
* Pharmacy Service
* Preventive Medicine Service
* TRICARE System
* U.S. Army Dental Activity

U.S. ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
The U.S. Army Medical Department Activity, a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Medical Command (Provisional), furnishes medical care to an eligible patient population in excess of 72,000 beneficiaries. Its primary facility is Martin Army Community Hospital (MACH), Building 9200, conveniently located off I-185 and Marne Road. In 1998, the hospital received its third consecutive Accreditation with Commendation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, an honor reserved for only the finest hospitals in the nation.


Martin Army Community Hospital on Fort Benning provides
comprehensive medical services.

MACH, a 103-bed facility named in honor of the late Maj. Gen. Joseph I. Martin, Medical Corps, has grown over the years. In 1990 the Emergency Boom underwent renovation at a cost of $800,000. The ER now contains the latest technology available to preserve life and provides services more efficiently than in the past. Currently, the main building is undergoing major construction. MACH, a 103-bed facility named in honor of the late Maj. Gen. Joseph I. Marlin, Medical Corps, continues to grow over the years. In 1999, the Emergency Room was renovated al a cost of $1.7 million. The ER now contains the latest technology available to preserve life and provides services more efficiently than in the past.

Completed renovations include Labor and Delivery, Newborn Nursery, Post Partum wards, Intensive Care Unit and Intermediate Care wards, and the sixth and seventh floor wards.

Within the hospital's 10 floors are 4 patient wards, an extensive surgical suite with same-day capabilities, a labor and delivery suite, and more than 30 ambulatory care clinics. The hospital maintains a fully accredited laboratory service, diagnostic radiology with computerized tomography and nuclear medicine, an extensive pharmacy service, and many other ancillary support services.

In order to provide these extensive medical services, the MEDDAC employs approximately 792 civilian and 546 military staff members. Daily, the hospital provides inpatient care to approximately 33 patients and averages nearly 1,500 outpatient visits. On the average, there are five babies born every day at MACH, and the hospital's Outpatient Pharmacy dispenses more than 2,200 prescriptions.

In addition to its medical mission, the MEDDAC has an extensive professional leaching/training mission, and in 1972 established the Army's first Family Practice Residency Program. This 3-year program maintains approximately 30 residents who provide medical services throughout the hospital.

Other specialty training programs include the clinical portion of the Army's Physician Assistant Program, a residency in Health Care Administration, training in several enlisted specialties and numerous clinical rotations or externships conducted in cooperation with local colleges and universities.

The MEDDAC is responsible for the operation of several services outside the hospital. Those located in Soldiers' Plaza include Community Mental Health Service, Social Work Service and Preventive Medicine Service, which includes Community Health Nursing, Occupational Health, the Preventive Medicine Clinic and the Health Screening Center.

Located near the Infantry Museum are the Physical Examination Service, Alcohol and Drug Counseling Center, Exceptional Family Member Program, and the Early Intervention Program. In addition to these facilities, the MEDDAC operates four Family Practice Clinics, four on-post Troop Medical Clinics (TMCs), a Reception Station and two satellite TMCs in support of Ranger training in Georgia and Florida.

APPOINTMENTS
Medical appointments for clinics at the MEDDAC are handled by the individual clinic. In most cases, patients will first be seen in a primary care clinic. These include Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, ER, and all Family Practice and TMCs. All remaining MEDDAC clinics are referral clinics, which mean that patients must be given a consultation from one of the primary clinics before an appointment can be scheduled.

Many primary care clinics have a telephone call-in service. This allows the patient to call the clinic and gain medical advice from a provider before coming to the clinic. If necessary, an appointment is given.

It is extremely important that patients arrive 15 minutes prior to medical appointments, in order to avoid a breakdown of the appointment schedule. If it is impossible to keep an appointment, please call the clinic in advance. This will allow the clinic to schedule another patient in that appointment slot. After duty hours, patients may call the appointment cancellation number, 544-2281, and leave a message on the answering machine.

* AMBULANCE SERVICE
On/Off Post
911
* HOSPITAL
Emergency Room
544-1502/1123
* HOSPITAL
Information Desk
544-2041/2042
* POISON INFORMATION
544-1123/1-800-282-5846
* PRIMARY CARE CLINICS
Aviation Medicine FP Clinic
545-2102/2163
* MACH Family Practice
544-3065/3066
* OB/GYN Clinic
544-1076/1077
* AMIC Clinic
544-3760/1569/1705
* Pediatric Clinic
544-1086/1087
* Victory Clinic
544-4487
* Winder FP Clinic
544-8910/8911
* MISCELLANEOUS
Appointment Cancellation
544-2281
* CHAMPUS Advisor
544-3461/1347
* Exceptional Family Member Program
545-5803
* Healthcare Finders
544-3113/3009
* Labor & Delivery
544-1621/1737
* Patient Affairs Liaison
544-2788/1817
* Pharmacy (outpatient)
544-1583
* Pharmacy (phone-in refill)
544-1352

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers play an important part at Martin Army Community Hospital. Every week, hundreds of volunteer hours are logged in hospital clinics, wards and administrative areas. All volunteer efforts are coordinated by the American Red Cross. Each summer, the ARC sponsors a youth program which allows teens the opportunity to work within the hospital. Individuals who would like to gain valuable healthcare experience and donate their time are encouraged to contact the hospital volunteer coordinator at 544-3213 or call the Red Cross, located on Main Post at 545-5194.

INSURANCE REGISTRATION
In November 1990, Congress passed legislation that directed all military hospitals to bill commercial health insurance companies for outpatient care. Since 1987, military hospitals have been billing insurance companies for inpatient services. Therefore, the revision to the law to include outpatient care is not a new concept, but rather an expansion of the old law.

Every time a patient is seen in any of the hospital's clinics, the patient will be asked to verify existing insurance information or to complete a registration form if needed. Once on file, insurance confirmation takes only moments prior to an appointment. Any changes in coverage should be brought to the attention of the individual clinic or the Insurance Registration Office.

Martin Army Community Hospital is permitted to retain some of the money received from the insurance companies which can be used by the hospital to improve its services. If a patient's policy has an annual deductible or cost-share, the patient will not receive a bill for these amounts. For more information, call Third Party Collections at 544-1409.

MEDICAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS
Each time a patient receives medical services, he or she must show proof of a valid military identification card and Patient Recording Card. The ID Card verifies eligibility, ensuring that medical privileges are not being abused by unauthorized personnel. The recording card is made following enrollment in a Family Practice Clinic or prior to the patient's first visit. In most cases, the recording card will be prepared during in processing to Fort Benning.

MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
Parents going on vacation and planning to leave a child or children with a babysitter or relative should obtain a Medical Power of Attorney to allow the adult to bring the child/children in for treatment. The Medical Power of Attorney can be obtained front the Staff Judge Advocate, Legal Assistance Division, Building 5. Children under the age of 18 require parental consent for treatment except in the case of a life threatening emergency.

MEDICAL RECORDS
A patient's outpatient medical record is very important. Each time a patient is seen, documentation is made as to the nature of the patient's medical condition and the treatment provided. It is a chronological record documenting the patient's medical history. The medical record is government property and must be available for quality control audits, filing various medical documents and for administrative and legal actions. Unless specifically advised, a patient should never remove the record from the hospital.

Martin Army Community Hospital operates an automated medical record pull system which is designed to have the patient's medical record at the clinic in which the patient is to be seen. If an appointment is scheduled on short notice, the patient should inform the record room staff. For more information about the outpatient medical record, patients may call 544-2678.

PATIENT AFFAIRS LIAISON
Patients with questions concerning hospital procedures or wishing to voice a complaint may visit the hospital's Patient Affairs Liaison Office, in Room 103, across from the Information Desk at Martin Army Community Hospital, or call 544-2788/1817.

Patient representatives are available during duty hours to offer assistance, provide information and promote communications between patients and staff. An answering machine is available 24 hours a day to take calls when the patient representative is not available.

Individuals with suggestions or desiring to compliment a staff member, a particular service, ward or clinic, should contact the PAL office. All comments will be reviewed by the commander, department chief, or the appropriate staff member.

PHARMACY SERVICE
The goal of the Pharmacy Service is to provide beneficiaries with quality pharmaceutical care. The pharmacy fills approximately 2,200 prescriptions every day. Each prescription requires a certain amount of time to be accurately filled and checked. In order to be more responsive to patients' needs, the Pharmacy Service operates a Refill Pharmacy in the PX Main Mall, next to the travel agency. A registered pharmacist is on duty at the Refill Pharmacy Monday through Friday, 9 amt. to 6 p.m.

All refills must be processed by the Refill Pharmacy unless accompanied by a new prescription.

The Pharmacy Service also offers a phone-in refill service. To use the service, patients call 544-1352 and provide the requested information. Calls are taken 24 hours a day. Requests made before midnight will be available at the Refill Pharmacy pick-up window after 9 a.m. the next duty day.

Medical information is provided when prescriptions are picked up from the Outpatient Pharmacy. Additional information on medication may be obtained using the Health Touch Information System located in the waiting area of the Outpatient Pharmacy. For more information about the services provided, call 544-4771/1583.

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE SERVICE
The Preventive Medicine Service provides a comprehensive program to reduce disease and injury among the active-duty and civilian population working and living on post. The Occupational Health Section actively monitors the health of individuals engaged in potentially dangerous jobs.

The Community Health Nursing Section extends the MEDDAC into the local community. Several health promotion programs are offered, including individual health risk appraisals and disease prevention programs. The nurses conduct home visits and public awareness activities, such as an annual health fair, active sponsorship of the Women's Infants' and Children's Program, and other activities for the Fort Benning community.

The Preventive Medicine Service also operates the Preventive Medicine Clinic which is responsible for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. The Environmental Health Section conducts food and water sanitation inspections at most post facilities. The service is also responsible for the conduct of the HIV Education and Awareness Program, heat and cold injury prevention, Infants Car Seat Program, and the Annual Flu Shot Program. For more information about the Preventive Medicine Service, call 545-1144.

TRICARE SYSTEM
TRICARE is a CHAMPUS Program. It is a comprehensive Department of Defense medical program for families of all active-duty and retired members who are less than 65 years of age. Soldiers and families are given the opportunity to enroll into one of three TRICARE options: TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra. Each beneficiary will select a Primary Care Manager (PCM) to be their individual physician in a physician group or team. The PCM will be the point of contact for the beneficiary. These services offer preventive care, prenatal care, inpatient services and routine outpatient services.

MACH staff is dedicated to providing quality medical care to all categories of patients. However, space available care is rapidly becoming more difficult to obtain. Patients are strongly encouraged to join TRICARE Prime which will guarantee priority access to care. For TRICARE enrollment information, patients should visit the TRICARE office in Building 9204, adjacent to the hospital or call 1800-444-5445. Health Benefits Advisors (HBAs) are available to assist patients with questions regarding TRICARE benefits and to assist with billing concerns. The HBAs can be contacted by calling 544-1347/3461.

The significant advantage of having family practice medical attention returns to the old family doctor philosophy. If a patient requires care beyond the family practice provider's capability, the patient will be referred to a specialist with whom the family practice provider will remain in contact.

Beneficiaries are enrolled into a Primary Care Clinic during in processing at Soldiers' Plaza in Building 2616. Beneficiaries may also enroll at MACH in Room 170.

Family members who are not enrolled in a Family Practice Clinic can use the hospital's AMIC Clinic for acute minor illness, the Pediatric Clinic for children under 16, the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic and the Emergency Room for any bona fide medical emergency.

U.S. ARMY DENTAL ACTIVITY
The U.S. Army Dental Activity is a subordinate command of the U.S. Army Dental Command. The "Follow Me" DENTAC operates five dental treatment facilities on Fort Benning and one dental clinic in Fort Rucker, AL. The Dental Activity also conducts a post-doctoral, One Year Advanced Educational Program in general dentistry which provides comprehensive training and supervised clinical experience in all major specialty areas of dental practice to recent dental school graduates.


Dentists and dental technicians provide quality care on post.

Members of the uniformed services receive routine dental care during normal duty hours at the clinic designated to support their unit. The operating hours for the dental clinics are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Soldiers must wear their duty uniform for sick call.

Dental care for family members is provided by local civilian dentists. A list of participating dentists is available at all dental facilities. The Family Member Dental Plan was instituted April 1, 1993. In Army clinics, family members are only eligible for those dental procedures not covered by the dental plan. This care is only provided on a very limited space available basis. However, normally there is no space available.


Students learn about tooth decay at Love Dental Clinic.

Emergency care will be provided only for relief of emergency conditions which are normally defined as swelling, bleeding, traumatic injury, or acute pain of sudden onset. Active duty Soldiers are expected to report to their respective clinics for dental emergencies during regularly scheduled sick call hours. Please call your respective clinic for sick hours. After duty hours care is available through the Emergency Room at Martin Army Community Hospital.

* DENTAC PHONE NUMBERS
HEADQUARTERS, DENTAC
Bldg. 9240, Santa Fe Road
544-3954
* LOVE DENTAL CLINIC
Bldg. 9240, Santa Fe Road
544-2051
* BERNHEIM DENTAL CLINIC
Bldg. 2828, Main Post
545-2901
* SALOMON DENTAL CLINIC
Bldg. 3255, Sand Hill
544-9071
* MARTIN ARMY DENTAL CLINIC
Bldg. 9200, Martin Army Community Hospital
544-3386
* TRICARE DEPENDENT DENTAL INSURANCE
Dependent Dental Insurance Information
1-800-866-8499