Kenner Army Health Clinic
Health Care Guide FALL 2010
A Special Supplement to The Traveller The availability of this supplement does not express or imply endorsement of the Department of Defense, the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps or the Federal Government. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, political afďŹ liation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.
2 • TRAVELLER HEALTHCARE • September 30, 2010
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Greetings to the beneficiaries and customers of Kenner Army Health Clinic. For those who are new to the area, welcome to a great and dynamic Army installation. Fort Lee is a sought after assignment and a place to enjoy the wonderful history Virginia has to offer. It is a bustling community and Kenner is growing to meet the current and future needs of our Soldiers and their families. This Healthcare Supplement highlights the many changes and advances that we’ve implemented during the last year. We are continually renovating our infrastructure to better suit your needs. In the last year, the Active Duty Clinic and Preventive Medicine section have moved into entirely new and state-of-the-art locations. Behavioral Health is similarly moving into a new area on our third floor. Even our exterior has recently received a very thorough face lift. The current Troop Medical Clinic (TMC) has just been expanded, and plans are well underway to open a second TMC in summer 2011. The renovation process has allowed us to expand our services. Kenner now has more primary care and behavioral health providers, and has recently added Internal Medicine and Dermatology services. In the immediate future, you will be able to book appointments directly through Kenner’s own Patient Appointment Center, and contact a Nurse Advice Line for after-hours medical advice. We are constantly trying to serve you better. Our vision is to be a center of excellence for Primary Care, supporting readiness and providing optimal health care for our beneficiaries. We are very proud of the perfect score we received during our most recent Joint Commission Survey, and we hope this demonstrates just how seriously we care about taking care of you. We value your input and active participation in your healthcare, and welcome any comments you might have about this year’s Supplement or any of our services. Please feel free to email me at KAHCCDR@amedd.army.mil or leave me a message at the Commander’s Virtual Suggestion Box, at http:// kenner.narmc.amedd.army.mil/Pages/VoxPopuliSuggestionBox. aspx We look forward to serving you. Warrior Care! COL Vivian Hutson Commander, Kenner Army Health Clinic Fort Lee, VA
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Kenner Army Health Clinic is Always There for You How to Access Healthcare at Any Hour By CPT Carl L. Shaw, Jr. Chief, Managed Care Division, Kenner Army Health Clinic Providing continuing access to high quality healthcare is Kenner Army Health Clinic’s commitment to you. The majority of Kenner’s clinics are open on regular duty days; Kenner is not open on weekends or federal holidays, and does not have emergency or urgent care services. Still, Kenner does have in place methods through which you can access emergent or urgent care at any time, and even has appointments available for online booking from the convenience of your own home, regardless of the hour. If you feel that you have an emergency, proceed immediately to the nearest emergency room or dial 911. Referrals or authorizations are not required for medical care; however, Kenner strongly recommends that you follow-up with your Primary Care Manager (PCM) as soon as possible after your emergency room visit, especially if there is a good chance that your condition will require specialty care. TRICARE defines an emergency as a medical, maternity or psychiatric condition that would lead a “prudent layperson” (someone with an average knowledge of health and medicine) to believe that a serious medical condition existed, or the absence of medical attention would result in a threat to his or her life, limb or sight and requires immediate medical treatment or which has painful symptoms requiring immediate attention to relieve suffering. If you feel you need medical care after hours, but are not sure whether or not you should seek immediate care or wait for an appointment, please call the Kenner Administrative Officer of the Day (AOD) at
(804) 734-9000. The AOD will contact an on-call provider, who will, in turn, contact you to assess your symptoms. Based on their conversation with you, they may instruct you to seek care from one of the many urgent care centers in the area. Referrals to urgent care are required, and the on-call provider will complete this for you. Please do not seek care from an urgent care center before ensuring that you do, in fact, have a referral to do so. Follow up with your PCM as soon as able after your visit. If you are TRICARE Prime enrolled to Kenner, we recommend you seek routine care by booking an appointment with your Primary Care Manager. To access the majority of our clinical services, please call the Hampton Roads Appointment Line at 1-866-6454584. This telephone appointment line is open Monday through Friday from 0600 to 2100; S a t u r d a y, Sunday & Holidays from 0700 to 1530. Beginning in early fall 2010, Kenner will have its very own Patient Appointment Line. These operators will be Kenner employees, and will have a very intimate knowledge of our providers and their schedules. Please call 1-866-LEE-KAHC (533-5242) to schedule the majority of your healthcare needs. You can also book many appointments online, with TRICARE Online. Not all of Kenner’s appointments are available for online booking, but a large number of primary care appointments are available to you, at just the click of a button. Please visit https://www.tricareonline.com for more information. Registration is required. If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please remember to cancel it to allow other patients to utilize that appointment.
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September 30, 2010 • TRAVELLER HEALTHCARE • 3
Kenner Army Health Clinic Grows to Meet Current and Future Requirements by Mr. Tom Farleigh Chief, Facility Management Division Kenner Army Health Clinic Facility construction and renovations for the medical, dental, and veterinary buildings were robust and energetic last year. Construction is well under way on the new $10.2 mil Combined Troop Medical and Dental Clinic. This 34,000 square foot facility is designed to meet the medical and dental needs of the growing Ft. Lee AIT soldier population resulting from 2005 BRAC legislation. We are excited to see the rapid progress of this major construction effort, and anticipate ribbon-cutting early next summer. Likewise, this year we ďŹ nished enlarging the current Troop Medical Clinic. The 3,300 square foot addition signiďŹ cantly enhanced our patient care delivery system to our existing AIT soldiers by adding provider’s ofďŹ ces and exam/screening rooms to support up to ďŹ ve additional providers and support staff. The facility boasts a new x-ray room, expanded pharmacy services, 3 additional treatment beds, and enlarged patient waiting room space. Our clinicians began providing medical care in this facility in early May of this year. The Kenner Army Health Clinic has had on-going interior renovations through a series of projects that began in FY 2002. During the past eight years, over
90 percent of the interior space within Kenner has been re-engineered and reconďŹ gured to support the changing Ft. Lee medical mission, largely due to BRAC and Grow-the-Army mission requirements. Last year we completed renovations on the ďŹ rst and second oors that provided new working space for the Preventive Medicine department and Active Duty Clinic. Accommodations for Preventive Medicine included a 53 percent larger footprint from that of its previous location in, new furniture and equipment, and an improved departmental layout scheme. The Active Duty Clinic space, which grew by 43 percent, now houses more providers, nurses and medical technicians to meet the needs of the growing permanent party military presence on Ft. Lee. The COL Bull Dental Clinic is undergoing a major facelift as well. The entire building is under renovation and is 55 percent complete. Coupled with this is an independent project to enlarge the building, providing for up to 8 additional dental treatment rooms. This project is scheduled to be completed late next year. Finally, in December 2009, we completed a project that essentially doubled the size of our existing Veterinary Clinic. Driven largely by the growth in military working dog presence on Ft. Lee, this expansion and minor restoration of the existing building provides for a new surgical and recovery area; and expanded ofďŹ ce and examination spaces within the complex. As a result, the departmental personnel are now consolidated within a single facility.
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4 • TRAVELLER HEALTHCARE • September 30, 2010
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The Internal Medicine Clinic at Kenner Army Health Clinic Improvements in Access to Care at the Active Duty Clinic Dr. Anthony D. Jones Chief, Internal Medicine Clinic, Kenner Army Health Clinic
By LTC Patricia A. Coburn Chief, Active Duty Clinic, Kenner Army Health Clinic The Active Duty Clinic located within Kenner Army Health Clinic strives to promote readiness for Active Duty Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen. Our staff is dedicated to delivering high quality, safe, effective, and customer-focused care to all Active Duty Members of our Armed Forces. We offer an array of services to include Sick Call, Physical Exams, Medical Boards, minor procedures ( to include, but not limited to: IV hydration, toenail removals, wart treatment, IUD insertion/removal, ear irrigations, incisions, drainage and suturing), as well as the evaluation and management of acute/chronic injuries and illnesses. We are now open at 5:45 a.m. Monday thru Friday. Our intent is to quickly meet the medical readiness needs of our population and improve access to care. Sick Call is conducted from 5:45 a.m. thru 8:00 a.m. daily. Every attempt is made to match patients with their Primary Care Managers when they arrive to the clinic to be seen, thus improving continuity of care. Individual appointments are available as early at 7:00 a.m. daily. We are also considering extending our evening hours to further accommodate patients that are unable to come in during normal duty hours. The Active Duty Clinic is proud to welcome three new members to our team. Dr. Sandra Smith specializes in Family Medicine and comes to us from Health Care Plus. Dr. Smith is excited about joining our team and looks forward to working more in-depth with the military population. Ms. Vaughan, Family Nurse Practitioner, comes to us from Lunenburg Medical Center, Victoria, Virginia. Ms. Vaughan is also excited about joining our team and when questioned about working in the military environment she comments, “This is my first time working with Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen and I’m loving it!” Ms. Rilee, Nurse Practitioner, recently transitioned from Fort Monroe, Virginia. Her background includes Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Cardiology. She specializes in Military Readiness and has extensive training in Terrorism, Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT), and Mass Casualties (MASCALS). Adding three high speed providers to our team will help Soldiers more readily access Periodic Health Assessments, Specialty Physicals and Pap Smears. In less than 30 days we have been able to exhaust our wait list for these services and decrease the wait time for future appointment types – thus increasing access to care as well as increasing the medical readiness on Fort Lee. The Active Duty Clinic is committed to promoting readiness and providing high quality, safe, effective care to all Active Duty Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen. We look forward to meeting your health care needs!
In addition to providing comprehensive primary care for our adult patients at Kenner Army Medical Clinic, Internal Medicine physicians are equipped to deal with complex and interacting medical problems. Doctors of internal medicine focus on adult medicine and have had special study and training focusing on the prevention and treatment of adult diseases, both common and rare. The clinic’s goal is disease prevention and treatment, while promoting patient-centered care by assigning each patient to one of our Internal Medicine teams, referred to as Medical Homes. These Medical Homes of the Internal Medicine division of Kenner Army Health Clinic will strive to give comprehensive and coordinated care by treating the whole patient – physically, socially, and mentally. The Internal Medicine Clinic focuses on adult medicine with services provided to all patients eligible to receive services at Kenner Army Health Clinic, ages 18 and older. Our physicians provide evaluation, treatment, and management in all medical subspecialities to include Cardiology, Pulmonology, Endocrinology, Neurology, Nephrology, Gastroenterology, Hematology, Rhematology, and Infectious Diseases. The Internal Medicine Division of Kenner Army Health Clinic specializes in: • Hypertension
• Cholesterol Management • Disease Prevention • Preoperative and Perioperative consultations • Diabetes Management • Anticoagulation management • Primary Care for our patients with chronic conditions such as Congestive heart failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Human Immunodeficiency Deficiency (HIV) For added convenience, the following Internal Medicine services are also available at KAHC: • Diabetic Testing • Electrocardiography Testing • Clinical Laboratory Dermatology is also now available at the Kenner Army Health Clinic Kenner Army Health Clinic is now offering dermatology services to Active Duty Service Members and their families. Services offered include routine care for common dermatological conditions. Procedures that are performed include: cryotherapy, biopsies (shave, punch, etc), ED&C (electrodessication and curettage), I&D (incision and drainage), and minor excisions. Other services available include NB UVB phototherapy (commonly used for Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema, Psoriasis, Vitiligo, etc) and Accutane for cystic acne. The dermatology clinic is located within the PCC at Kenner Army Health Clinic and referrals are required to schedule an appointment.
Do You Have a Medication List? By Mr. David T. Bolesh Nurse Consultant, Patient Safety and Infection Control, Kenner Army Health Clinic In has been estimated that the annual cost of illness and deaths related to medications in ambulatory care approaches $200 billion. The most common causes of these medication induced events are: (1) taking the incorrect dose; (2) taking med at the wrong time; (3) forgetting a dose; and (4) stopping the med too soon. In the USA over 3 billion prescriptions are dispensed annually. Research has shown that half of the prescriptions taken each year in the USA are used incorrectly. The Institute of Medicine estimates that more than 1.5 million people are injured by medication errors annually. The lack of medication related information and the inadequate communication of information are significantly risk factors. So how can you and the staff at Kenner Army Health Clinic (KAHC) prevent you and your family from becoming part of these statistics? One major initiative has been KAHC’s push to ensure that our patients leave there appointments with a current list of their medications. Last year KAHC conducted a thorough review of the processes involved in getting an updated and accurate medication list into your hands. Many
actions were put in place to improve the effectiveness of this process. The actions you may have already noticed include: (1) Being reminded by appointment clerks to bring your med list to your appointment; (2) Being reminded by the TRICARE on-line appointing screen to bring your med list; (3) When you get your appointment “reminder” call you also get reminded to bring your med list; (4) Kenner staff asking you more often if you have your med list. And of course most importantly you are receiving a med list when you have an appointment at a KAHC clinic. What you do with the list is as important as us giving it to you. The list is a reminder for you, your family and for the next healthcare provider you visit. All of them should know what your medications are to include how much you take and when you take it. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices states a patient must know the following things to ensure optimal medication therapy: (1) name of medication; (2) purpose of medication; (3) length of time med to be taken; (4) amount of each dose; (5) frequency and time to be take; and (6) possible adverse effects and what to do if they occur. If this information is not written down in “language” see MEDICATION page 7
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What’s New in the Department of Behavioral Health? By COL Robert L. Stewart Chief, Department of Behavioral Health, Kenner Army Health Clinic The doors are open at the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and we are ready for business. Reaching out to those who could benefit from services, however, has been a challenge. “How long do I have to wait for an appointment?” asked the doubtful voice on the other end of the phone. “Actually, you could be seen tomorrow,” I informed the person inquiring. Startled, the Staff Sergeant accepted the 0800 appointment. I was making calls during a new push to try to reach out to Soldiers with behavioral health needs who had been referred off post due to earlier staff shortages and long waits care. One year ago, the psychiatric hospital admission rate for the month of June peaked at fifty four. This year, June hospital admissions numbered only thirty. One year ago, Soldiers might have had to wait several weeks or even months to get an appointment, if they were seen at all. Many went off post for treatment through Army One Source, or just gave up trying to get an appointment. What has changed at Kenner’s Department of Behavioral Health since then? A lot! COL Stewart, the Chief of the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), came to Fort Lee with a vision for expanding behavioral health services to meet the needs of the Soldiers on Fort Lee. Given his background as Chief, Department of Behavioral Health at Fort Belvoir, he came with a wealth of experience doing just that very thing. Drawing from funding for telepsychiatry, hiring Public Health Service officers under a new DoD agreement and adding several new positions to the TDA, DBH has increased in size by eight providers.
“How do you treat a moving target?” Fort Lee: A Post With Unique Challenges Along with the vision of expanding the behavioral health department at Fort Lee came many challenges. For one thing, the post has a large, highly transient population with thousands of Advanced Individual Training (AIT) students who are here for relatively brief training intervals, but with very real behavioral health needs. “How do you treat a moving target?” is a question
the leadership at DBH had to try to answer. Another difficulty was getting Soldiers who were assessed for sleep problems, PTSD symptoms, and other behavioral health issues during their post deployment screenings to follow-up in the behavioral health clinic. Soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan are eager to get back to their families and jobs. They typically hit the ground running and don’t want another appointment to keep, so appointments for follow-up screenings at DBH were getting missed. Following up was a big problem for Soldiers identified with possible behavioral health problems. So DBH leadership addressed this issue. If the soldier wouldn’t or couldn’t come to the DBH clinic, a DBH provider would be sent to the soldier… So now, a behavioral health worker is strategically placed at the Soldier Readiness Center to immediately do an assessment and to offer services to the Soldiers who may need behavioral health interventions. This cuts down on red tape for the Soldier and streamlines the referral process. A nurse practitioner has also been strategically placed at the Troop Medical Clinic (TMC), where AIT students are seen for medical health problems. That way, if an AIT student is being seen for a medical problem and a behavioral health issue is identified, he/she can immediately be seen by a professional without the need to transport the Soldier to Kenner.
“If you can’t get the soldier to come to the behavioral health clinic…you move the behavioral health clinic to the soldier.” Kenner Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) has grown over the past year. In addition to two contract psychiatrists, three nurse practitioners – one from the Public Health Service – have joined its ranks. A psychologist from Fort Belvoir was recruited to head Community Behavioral Health Services, which is under the umbrella of DBH. Two social workers have been added from the Public Health Service. In addition, social workers from the Family Advocacy Program are now treating a limited number of psychotherapy patients. A tele-psychiatry service has been started that provides therapy and psychiatry to Soldiers using technology that allows providers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to communicate with Soldiers at Fort Lee through a large screen television and satellite technology. The possibility of receiving ongoing therapy, psychological testing, medication management
and follow-up care has dramatically improved over the past year. Suicide is a very real and growing problem among the Army’s ranks; we employ a social worker who is completely dedicated to developing suicide prevention strategies. Many Soldiers who needed behavioral healthcare during late 2009 and early 2010 had, at times, been referred off-post to providers in the TRICARE network. We are now calling many of them to alerting them that they can now be seen at DBH for treatment and medication management. The vast majority of Soldiers who have been contacted are glad to find out that they can be seen at Fort Lee during their work day for their behavioral health needs. It is the vision of our Commander and the hope of DBH leadership to be able to add the treatment of family members sometime in 2011. In fact, there are providers now on staff at DBH who are trained in the treatment of children and family members. Several of the providers are already preparing to treat family members and have experience in this area. Of course, it is important to ensure that we first are able to meet the behavioral healthcare needs of our permanent party and AIT populations. If you are a Soldier that has been referred off-post for psychiatric care, or you know of a Soldier who has, please be aware that most behavioral health treatment interventions are now available on post. All of our departments are now located on the newly renovated third floor of the Kenner Army Health Clinic. Here are some questions to ask yourself: • Have you had trouble sleeping for more than 2 weeks? • Have you felt depressed or down for more than 2 weeks? • Are you having recurrent thoughts about military experiences that occurred during your deployment? • Have you had any suicidal thoughts in the past month? • Are you having nightmares? • Is your spouse or are other family members saying you have changed since your deployment? • Are you having trouble concentrating? • Are you more irritable than you used to be? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be dealing with a health problem that could be treated at the Department of Behavioral Health. Call the following number to schedule an appointment for yourself: 734-9387. The doors are open and DBH is ready for business.
Preventive Medicine – “Good Health for All” By MAJ David Nee RN, MSN, PHCNS-BC, Chief, Preventative Medicine, Kenner Army Health Clinic The Preventive Medicine Division is responsible for the public health of the Fort Lee installation to ensure a state of optimal health for Soldiers, eligible TRICARE beneficiaries, and Department of Defense civilians. We are now located on the newly renovated second floor of Kenner Army Health Clinic. Community Health Nursing provides tuberculosis surveillance and education; consultation services for the Child Development Center, Youth Services, and Family Child Care providers (which include health training and inspections and monitoring for community disease trends); and health information to travelers going abroad. Health Promotion offers services in health education to beneficiaries for tobacco cessation, weight control, cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, travel health needs, and sexually transmitted
diseases, as well as education for pregnant Soldiers as part of the Pregnancy and Post Partum Physical Training program. Environmental Health maintains control measures to deter water and food borne illnesses. This department offers classes such as Heat and Cold Injury Prevention, Field Sanitation, Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness; and Pre-Deployment Medical Threat briefings. A Pest Management Program is integrated through surveillance and pesticide application, controlling the population of mosquitoes, ticks, roaches, and other arthropods. Occupational Health provides care to all eligible Federal Civilian employees and Active Duty military personnel working in industrial hazardous positions. Services are directed toward prevention of occupational illness and/or injury, health maintenance; and prevention/monitoring of occupational hazards. Programs include medical examinations, reproductive hazard surveillance, hearing and vision conservation, work-site visits, illness/absence monitoring, respiratory protection, employee modified duty, patient education and employee in/out processing.
6 • TRAVELLER HEALTHCARE • September 30, 2010
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Veterinary Services As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”; this idea holds true in animal care just as much as in human medicine. Over the past twenty to thirty years, the veterinary profession has made vast in improvements in its ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat many of the things that afflict our four-legged family members. The most important thing you can do for your pet is to establish a relationship with a local veterinarian (on post or off) as soon as possible. Not only will they be able to advise you on the disease prevalence specific to the area you are living, but they can also recommend a medical plan based on your pet’s individual needs and circumstances. Making it a point to schedule a yearly (or every 6 month for senior patients) exam is the first step to preventative care for your pet. This allows your veterinarian to work with you to diagnose problems early in the disease process, and to prevent potential problems. Utilize your time with the veterinarian during the yearly exam to ask any questions you may have, and to inform your veterinarian of any changes in your pet’s behavior, eating habits, urination/defecation habits, or social interactions. You know your pet’s “normal” better than anyone else, so don’t be afraid to tell your veterinarian about any abnormalities you have noticed. During your pet’s yearly visit to the veterinarian, there are
a few standard things you can expect. First of all, try to bring a fecal sample with you to the visit (Ziploc baggies or disposable Tupperware containers work well for this). This allows your veterinarian to screen for possible intestinal parasites that your pet can acquire from the environment. Even indoor cats have the potential to contract these parasites, so it is important to remember to bring this sample with you to your appointment. These parasites have the potential to be zoonotic (this means that humans can get them too!), so yearly testing of your pet not only protects them, but it protects your family too. Depending on what your veterinarian finds, they may choose to send your pet home with a dewormer (medication to treat intestinal parasites), so make sure you understand how and when to administer the medication. Another routine test that is done yearly is the heartworm test for dogs and the feline leukemia/FIV test for cats (especially outdoor cats). These tests can detect infections before your pet is showing any signs of being sick! Your veterinarian can discuss the results and recommendations with you during your appointment. Fortunately, these tests only require a small amount of blood and most facilities are able to run the test in the clinic, so you can go home with the results in hand! Vaccines, vaccines, vaccines! Years ago, appointments were often based on what vaccines the pet needed, but things have changed. Vaccines are only one important aspect of the yearly appointment, but they are an essential piece. Both cats
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and dogs need rabies vaccines either yearly or every three years depending on where you live, so check with your veterinarian. Dogs also need a DA2PP (known as a distemper vaccine) and leptospirosis vaccines, whereas cats need a FVRCP (also known as a distemper vaccine). These vaccines help to protect against contagious and potentially fatal diseases that affect many of the major organ systems in the body. There are other types of vaccines that may be necessary depending on your pets individual needs (such as bordatella, lyme, and feline leukemia vaccines to name a few). It is imperative to discuss your pet’s habits and living arrangement with your veterinarian so that the best vaccine recommendations can be made to ensure your pet is adequately protected. Another aspect of preventive pet medicine involves heartworm, flea and tick treatment. Heartworm prevention is important nearly everywhere in the world. Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, so even pets that rarely (or never) go outside will benefit from heartworm prevention. It is a disease that is easy to prevent, but ugly to treat. Fleas and ticks vary in severity by location, so the best thing to do is speak with your local veterinarian about the best products for the area in which you are living. By taking these simple steps, you can ensure that your pet is receiving the best in early detection care that is available. This can help your pet live a longer, happier, and healthier life so that you can spoil them for years to come!
We Make Smiles Happen Dentistry for the Child, Adolescent & Handicapped
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS OF VIRGINIA
CPT Emily B. Elser, Branch Chief, Fort Lee Veterinary Services
• JAMES M. KEETON, JR., D.M.D. Dr. Keeton is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. He has been in private practice since 1975, and is the past President of the Virginia Pediatric Dental Society.
• MEERA A. GOKLI, D.D.S. Dr. Gokli graduated with honors from the University of Richmond. She was President of the Virginia Society of Pediatric Dentistry, an Associate Professor at MCV/VCU and she is Board Certified in Pediatric Dentistry.
• STEVEN R. LUBBE, D.M.D. Dr. Lubbe graduated from the University of Kentucky. He was also elected into OKU, the national dental honor society, and graduated in the top 5 of his class.
Orthodontics for Adults & Children • APRIL L. BRIDGES - POQUIS D.D.S. Dr. Bridges is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Virginia. She graduated 2nd in her class from MCV School of Dentistry where she also completed her post-graduate training in orthodontics.
• CHAD SCHANILEC, D.D.S. Dr. Schanilec is a graduate of The University of Iowa College of Dentisty and completed his post-graduate training in orthodontics at MCV. He has also served as a full time professor at MCV.
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September 30, 2010 • TRAVELLER HEALTHCARE • 7
Kenner’s Eagle Clinic is More Than Meets the Eye by Dr. Michael D. Lawson Chief, Optometry Services Kenner Army Health Clinic The optometry clinic at Fort Lee is on the cutting edge of technology and scope of practice. Kenner’s beneďŹ ciaries enjoy the widest range of optometric care available anywhere with providers trained to manage most diseases and injuries of the eye; requiring fewer referrals to outside providers than ever and greater continuity of care. Part of this is due to the fact that Kenner’s optometrists are constantly advancing their knowledge with continuing education, advanced technology, and working in a collaborative manner. It really is a team effort. Another reason for Eagle’s wide range of service is the cutting edge technology available. Currently available are incredible new instruments to diagnose and manage retinal disease, ocular injuries, and corneal disease. In the near future Eagle clinic will add exciting new imaging technologies to diagnose and treat glaucoma earlier and more accurately than ever before with measurements to within 5 microns. Anterior segment problems such as cataract and corneal dystrophies can often be tricky, but with these new instruments, Kenner’s optometry staff will be at
the forefront of ocular diagnosis and treatment. These instruments also bring unique new readings that further expand the diagnostic and therapeutic options available. Think of the accuracy and information of a CT scan of the eyes and you’ll get a picture of the details these new technologies hold. With so much advanced technology and imaging, how will this information be managed and shared? The optometry clinic is also exploring methods to link these technologies and store information in a central repository available not only to each exam room‌but also for other Military Treatment Facilities to view; further expanding the role Kenner plays in your healthcare at Fort Lee and beyond. This will break new ground for the Army and be an example of innovation and efďŹ ciency the Fort Lee community can be proud of. Fort Lee’s Active Duty Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines will receive additional beneďŹ t as these new technologies are also the standard bearers for pre and post operative laser refractive surgery. Eagle Clinic performs pre and post operative care for LASIK and PRK daily; a wonderful beneďŹ t for our heroes in uniform. Currently the optometry clinic has availability for Active Duty Soldiers, dependents, and retirees with TriCare Prime.
MEDICATION from page 4 you can understand it is very unlikely you will be able to remember all of it. But why do you need a list if you are only taking one medication or just an Over-the-Counter (OTC) medication? The written list that is with you communicates to healthcare providers when you are unable to do so. You could be unconscious in an emergency room without any family to speak for you. It can also be very difďŹ cult for a distraught family member to recall what medications you are taking. There are more than 10,000 different prescription drugs and over 300,000 OTC medications currently on the market. OTC includes not only drugs but vitamins, mineral, herbals, and dietary supplements. The OTC market has seen a recent surge in “brand-expansionâ€? products. These are complicated and confusing. For example there are now more than 50 TylenolÂŽ products. Children are especially vulnerable to medication mistakes. Studies have shown that parents and caregivers, such as babysitters, give children incorrect doses of OTC medications as much as 47% of the time. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to protect yourself and family from medication errors. Ask questions of your provider and the pharmacy staff when receiving prescriptions. When selecting OTC medications read labels and carefully follow dosing instructions. Always keep your medication list current and in your wallet, purse, and home. Be sure your family has access to the list as well. It just might save your life.
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He knows the challenges military personnel and their families face.
RONALD E. TERRY, DMD, PC
Dr. Brady has previously served as a commissioned ofďŹ cer in the reserve components of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force, both as a Medical Services Corp OfďŹ cer and as a physician.
www.TerryDentistry.com
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