HEALTH-CARE INFORMATION
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.
The Coast Guard operates a Medical/Dental Clinic at Integrated Support Command Portsmouth. Most Coast Guard personnel in the Hampton Roads area receive their primary, non-emergent care at this clinic. Coast Guard family members may also use this facility as their primary care location via the SENTARA Tri-Care Clinic.
All Navy health care facilities in Hampton Roads fall under Commander, Naval Base, Norfolk. Local facilities include Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth and five branch clinics under the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth. The branch clinics are located at Sewell's Point; Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek; Norfolk Naval Shipyard; Naval Air Station Oceana; and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. In addition, there are annexes at Naval Security Group Activity, Northwest and Fleet Combat Training Center, Dam Neck.
The Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth provides a comprehensive range of emergency, outpatient and inpatient health care services to active duty Navy and Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel, their families and the many retired military members in the Hampton Roads area. Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth services a population of approximately 300,000 people. Of the 1.4 million people living in the Hampton Roads area, 1 in 4 are eligible for care at the hospital. Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth has the only military emergency room on the Southside of Hampton Roads. The medical clinics, spread throughout Hampton Roads, serve all Navy and Marine Corps installations. The branch clinics in the area are not equipped to handle life threatening emergencies. All life threatening emergencies should be taken to the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth or the nearest civilian facility. Active duty personnel need to remember that they must use military care facilities. If an emergency does arise and an active duty person must use a civilian hospital, Champus must be notified at once, or insurance coverage is not assured. Personnel should visit the health care facility nearest them to obtain information on the availability of services at the facility.
TRICARE
"Tri-Service Coordinated" Health Care refers to the coordination between the military hospital commanders of the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, McDonald Army Community Hospital at Fort Eustis, and the 1st Medical Group Hospital at Langley Air Force Base, plus the coordination of resources between military hospitals, clinics and civilian sources. All branches of the uniformed services are covered by TRICARE.
MILITARY AMBULATORY CARE CLINIC (MACC)
MACC's are located at Sewell's Point Medical Clinic by the Norfolk Naval Station Gate 2, Joel T. Boone Clinic at NAB Little Creek, and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Military and family member appointments may be scheduled at these clinics for pap, ear, nose, throat and minor injuries. These are military clinics with both contract and military personnel serving the patients. Military Sick Call is conducted at these clinics. In order to obtain a non- availability statement for outside care (surgery or specialist care) or to be seen by a doctor at Portsmouth, a clinic doctor must refer you. MAC clinics are free of charge and appointments are usually available within a two-day period. These clinics are out patient only, and are not for emergency or life threatening situations.
NAVCARE
Another source of primary medical care for beneficiaries are the NAVCARE clinics. The NAVCARE 4 clinic is located in VA Beach and the NAVCARE 3 clinic is located in Norfolk. These clinics are operated by civilian medical personnel under contract through the Navy on an appointment basis and are open 365 days per year. NAVCARE facilities are for non-emergency out-patient care only. Military Sick Call is not available at these clinics.