Clinic Hours as of January 2008:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 0700-1130, 1300-1515.
Thursday: 1300 - 1515.
The clinic is closed for staff training on Thursday morning after sick call.
Active duty sickcall sign-in is held Monday-Friday from 0700 to 0800 and again at 1300 to 1400. Sickcall is for ACUTE ILLNESS ONLY, all other care, including follow-on and up-chits, is by appointment only. Dental sickcall is held daily from 0715-0730 only.
Active-Duty Dependents & Retirees- Due to the high volume of active duty personnel, dependents and retirees are not eligible for care at the clinic. Only on-base emergency care will be rendered to dependents and retirees.
The pharmacy is aligning its prescription drugs availability with the Basic Core formulary items. TRICARE Prime enrollees may use MTF pharmacies. It is recommended that you call the pharmacy at (727) 535-1437 ext. 1610 to check on the availability of specific medications prior to coming to the clinic. Telephone/FAX prescriptions are not accepted. However, refills, for prescriptions originally filled by our pharmacy, can be requested by phone.
An over-the-counter-medication program is available for active duty and active duty dependents. Available items and quantity are limited by Commandant instruction. Aviation personnel cannot receive any over-the-counter medications and must first be seen by a doctor to receive any kind of medications.
Your dependent ID card is required for all pharmacy services.
For complete information on all pharmacy benefits, including the National Mail Order Pharmacy Program, select: TRICARE PHARMACY. Information pamphlets are also available from the pharmacy.
TRICARE is the triple option managed care initiative mandated by the Dept. of Defense.
TRICARE PRIME is an HMO based plan. TRICARE Prime enrollees are not eligible for non-emergent care in Coast Guard clinics.
TRICARE EXTRA is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) model.
TRICARE STANDARD is the CHAMPUS benefit. Deductible, out-of-pocket expenses, claims filing, and benefits vary among the three programs. Families must carefully weigh their own circumstances when deciding on which program is right for them.
REMEMBER: MORE CHOICE = HIGHER PATIENT COST.
We have a Tricare Services Representative located at the medical clinic. They are available Monday thru Friday from 0730-1200 and 1230-1600. They do not take direct phone calls as they are available on a walk-in basis.
For detailed information contact the following offices or contact the Humana Military TRICARE Service Line at: 1-800-444-5445 or the web site: www.humana-military.com/
CG Airstation Clearwater & MacDill AFB
P.O. Box 7031
Camden, SC 29020-7031
The United Concordia Co. is the manager of the TRICAREFMDP. Because MTF dental care resources are so limited, participation is encouraged.
Contact the Customer Service Center at 1-800-332-0366 or visit their website for information and enrollment..
United Concordia Co.
FMDP Claim Processing
P.O. Box 898220
Camp Hill, PA 17089-8220
Health Benefits Advisor:\
Basic information on health benefits programs can be obtained from the clinic HBA. He/she can be reached at (727) 535-1437 ext. 1603 for Explanation of Benefits (EOB) review and minor claim problem resolution. Claim forms are available at the front desk or on-line.
Additional information and major claim problem assistance is available by calling the Beneficiary Services Section of MLC Atlantic at 1-(800) 9-HBA-HBA.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) :
EAP numbers: 1-800-222-0364, or visit their website at www.foh.dhhs.gov
Help is available all day, all week, all year. Emotional, Family, Financial, New Job Assignments, Relationship, Alcohol, Job Concerns, PCS Moves.
Macdill AFB Coast Guard Liaison
A Health Services Technician is assigned to the 6th Medical Group Hospital, Macdill AFB, as a Coast Guard Liaison. Their primary duties involve assistance to in-patient beneficiaries, coordinating care for members of outlying units, and liaison with MLC Atlantic case managers. The CG Liaison can be reached at (727) 502-1602.
Other Useful Information:
Prescription or Over-the-Counter Drugs and Driving When people take cold medications or a pill to ease their headache, they often forget that the medication has effects on their cognitive and motor abilities. It doesn't usually cross their minds that they are taking a drug and will be impaired. Even if they read the warning, it's common to assume that it only applies a few certain people and that "do not operate heavy machinery" means farm equipment or tractors, forgetting that cars should be included as well. Also, many drugs carry warnings about drowsiness or dizziness that people ignore. However, this is a serious problem that leads to thousands of automobile crashes each year. The danger of getting behind the wheel when a driver is too tired to drive can be fatal.|
Drugs impair our bodies in a variety of ways. They may blur our vision; make us tired or too excited; alter depth perception; make us see or hear things that may not be there; raise or lower blood pressure; react too quickly, too slowly, or not at all. They cause problems with concentrating on the task at hand. These problems can result from taking any type of drug: illegal, prescription or over-the-counter. When our brain function is altered, our muscle and nerve function changes. Taking sedating antidepressants even 10 hours before driving is equal to driving drunk.
10 mg of Valium can cause greater driving impairment than a blood alcohol concentration of 0.1 (at or above the legal limit in all states).
Antihistamines - which block allergic reactions - slow down reaction time and impair coordination.
Over-the-counter decongestants can cause drowsiness, anxiety, and dizziness. Drowsy driving is responsible for an estimated 100,000 traffic crashes and about 1,500 deaths every year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Common prescription drugs (including medications to treat allergies, pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, ulcers, depression, anxiety disorders, and insomnia) can cause drowsiness, affect vision and other skills that can be serious hazards on the road.
Tranquilizers, sedatives, and sleeping pills slow down the central nervous system causing drowsiness and diminished reaction time, and impairing the ability to concentrate.
Over-the-counter drugs such as cold and cough medicines, antihistamines, drugs to prevent nausea or motion sickness, pain relievers, decongestants, and diuretics can cause drowsiness or dizziness that can impair a driver's skills and reflexes.
Some drugs may make you feel alert and confident in your driving. In reality of the situation may be quite different. Drugs can fool you into believing your are in control of your driving when you are, in fact, impaired.
Here is a partial list of legal drugs that can - in the right amount - impair your ability to drive:
Narcotic pain medications
Blood sugar medicines
Blood pressure medicines
Motion sickness medication
To avoid harming yourself or others, partner with your physician and pharmacist to learn information regarding your medication's side effects, and what drugs are usually safe to combine-especially behind the wheel.
Never take more than the prescribed dose, or take anyone else's medicine. Ask for non-sedating forms of your prescriptions if you are behind the wheel, or operate heavy machinery.
Allow your body time to adjust to new medications before you drive. Most importantly, each of us is responsible for knowing the signs and symptoms of being drug impaired before we get behind any wheel.