Clinic responds to shortage with changes

  • Published
  • By Captain Ambrosia Tomaino
  • 56th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZONA --  The Luke Air Force Base Pediatrics Clinic is undergoing a shortage of provider staffing due to humanitarian mission support, separations and a decrease of providers from five to four. This manning issue has impacted appointments available to children as well as increased the wait times to be seen by the clinic. The 56th Medical Group is pursuing options to increase appointment availability for pediatric patients during this critical manning shortage.

Despite making many adjustments to provider scheduling to increase our available appointments, we have still not been able to meet the demand by patient population. Because of this access issue, we will be making the following adjustments to our enrollment parameters to increase access for our pediatric patients.

For children ages 7 or older who have a sponsor enrolled at 56th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Flight Medicine, their care will be transferred to a qualified flight medicine provider. For children ages 15 or older, their care will be transferred to a qualified family health provider.

At this time, only active-duty dependents, ages 0 to 2 years will be allowed to enroll to a Luke AFB pediatric provider. All other new active duty dependents will be enrolled as described above. Unfortunately, new retiree dependent enrollees will have to select an off-base primary care manager for their children.

If a primary care appointment isn't available within the Defense Department's required access-to care time frame, some pediatric patients will be granted a temporary referral to seek routine care at an off-base location already coordinated by the 56th MDG. However, the patient will maintain enrollment to a Luke AFB pediatric provider.

The Nurse Advice Line, 800-TRICARE (874-2273), Opt. 1, is a valuable tool for parents who need 24/7 healthcare advice or seek authorization to visit an urgent care center. Members can also contact the pediatrics clinic via MiCare for all other non-acute issues by logging into https://app.relayhealth.com.

Good communication between parents and their pediatric health care team at 56th MDG is the best way to ensure excellent continuity of medical care for children, especially if care is required or received at a civilian medical facility.