The health-care industry in southeastern Virginia boasts several
private hospitals and outpatient treatment clinics, a number of military
hospitals and base clinics, and many specialty clinics, dentists, and
chiropractors.
All Navy health care facilities in Hampton Roads fall
under Commander, Naval Station Norfolk. Local facilities include The
Charette Health Care Center also known as the Naval Medical Center (NMC)
Portsmouth and six (6) branch clinics under NMC Portsmouth.
NMC
Portsmouth is the oldest and second largest naval hospital in the United
States. The hospital provides a comprehensive range of emergency,
outpatient and inpatient health care services to active duty personnel, their
families, and the many retired military members in the Hampton Roads area -
serving a population of approximately 300,000. NMC Portsmouth has the
only military emergency room on the Southside of Hampton Roads. The
branch clinics are not equipped to handle life-threatening
emergencies. All life-threatening emergencies should be taken to NMC
Portsmouth or the nearest civilian facility. If an active duty person
or a family member enrolled in TRICARE Prime must use a civilian hospital for an
emergency, TRICARE must be notified, as soon as possible, or insurance coverage
will not be assured. Take any bills for emergency services to your
Health Benefits Officer (HBO) at any military medical facility as soon as you
receive it, to ensure prompt payment.
When transferring to the Hampton
Roads area, contact a Health Benefits Advisor at one of the military medical
facilities to enroll in TRICARE Mid-Atlantic.