HAWAII MarineServing MCAS Kaneohe Bay, 1st MEB, Camp H.M. Vol. 22 No. 22 Smith and Marine Barracks. June 3, 1993 Budget cuts force Tripler to examine care By GA. Wits hours per day, Triple, Amly Medicai Cornea - Opening a nurse-run clinic 16 hours - 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. - per An expected $9.5 million cut in day, 7 days a week to administer Tripler's FY 94 budget has officials IV antibiotics, and dressing determining how to continue changes, providing quality health care with - Partial reduction of the over- minimum impact to all categories the-counter pharmaceuticals, of beneficiaries. By planning - Implementing telephonic triage early, Tripler officials expect to protocols in selected outpatient minimize any interruption in clinics. In other words, when a services. patient calls the hospital he/she Officials will evaluate the will be asked a series of questions efficiency of current health care by a registered nurse, nurse practices and modifications will practitioner, or physician who will be made in areas which wilt have decide whether the patient needs the least impact on patient care. to be seen in the clinic or can be In fact, a Tripler official adds, the appropriately cared for at home. hope is to continue providing the If the provider determines that current level of services with the caller does not need to see a minimal change. doctor at that time, the caller will Army BGen. James E. Hastings, still feel better because he/she commander, Tripler Army Medical obtained advice from a health care Center says, The primary professional, did not have to make objective in working with the a trip to the hospital, nor did the reduced budget is to maintain the individual have to wait to be seen. quality of care and keep patient Ultimately, telephonic triaging satisfaction at high levels." may free health care providers to Anticipating the budget treat patients requiring physician reductions, Tripler officials have intervention, and, implemented a hiring restriction -Establishing a "motel/self-care allowing six employees to be hired ward." This ward will be for for every ten who leave. patients who are not sick enough Additionally, in August 1992, to be admitted to the hospital, but Bellows assault Tripler officials established a are not well enough to be at home. committee with a charter to Instead of a fully staffed ward, Marines sleze Bellows Air Force Station May 24. The training combined the elements of the 1st MEB. For more photos on the training, evaluate health care practices and the "motel/self-care ward" would see page A-6. "set the course" for future health be staffed with one health care care practices. The committee is worker. currently considering the following initiatives: All beneficiaries are reminded - Consolidating beds to reduce that this first round of budget excess capacity, reductions was planned prior to Extending overseas may leave - Discharging new mothers and President Clinton's election. their infants 24-36 hours after Therefore, additional reductions delivery - this is standard in may be coming. many civilian hospitals, Non-active duty beneficiaries family members out in the cold - Implementing home therapy under 65 are encouraged to obtain for newborns with jaundice, CHAMPUS supplements and to not inconvenience the forcing their families unexpectedly state, "I- lousing may be terminated By Sgt. commander if - Initiating home monitoring beneficiaries 65 or older are Lou Ramirez dependents if the request is onto the local economy.. by the installation sb weer services for preterm labor patients, encouraged to enroll in Medicare disapproved. Usually these a sponsor extends a dependents requests are approved for a one Recently, some service members. restricted tour." - Increasing usage of the Pre- Part B to avoid large hospital while on unaccompanied orders Admission Unit by increasing bills should Tripler be required to Service members who occupy year period, However, those who If a member is no longer government housing and are voluntarily extend overseas or overseas, have requested additional same day surgery and lengthening reduce or terminate selected time in quarters after voluntarily authorized to occupy government the unit's operating hours to 16 services. assigned to dependent restricted request consecutive overseas tours housing they will have to move tours may voluntarily retain will not be allowed to retain extending overseas. These requests will not be approved. out within 30 days, Dozier housing facilities at their last ho using. explained. permanent duty station. "Especially here on Oahu, "Generally the initial request will "It's not that we are not trying This action is usually housing is very limited and we be approved," said Geoffrey Dozer, to support our Marines, sailors Exchange changes accomplished through the cannot allow any exceptions," said supervisory housing management and their families, however, every submission of an Administrative LtCol. K. E. Gregory, Station assistant. But when the member exception exacerbates the already Action (AA) Form to the Station Inspector. extends, we will have to abide by long waiting list. It is only MWR Inspector's Office. The request the guidelines provided." equitable to give everyone an be for It is important that members To make way for expansion, the Exchange Flower Shop has should submitted opportunity to occupy government consideration prior to the service realize this fact before they decide Those guidelines provided by the quarters as quickly as possible," been relocated. Services are still available inside the exchange. to extend, or else they may be Teleflora, flower wire service, is located in the Customer Service member ytecuting orders, in order Oahu Consolidated Housing Office Gregory explained. department. Balloon Bouquets are located in the gift section of the Household department. Leis and pre-arranged bouquets are located in the Self Service Store. In addition to the Flower Shop moving, the Marine Corps May NQLB leaves Board concerned Exchange Self Service Store will extend its houis. Effective today, the Self Service Store will be open later in presentations by speakers from the Clinic is only for simple problems discussed some of the problem the evenings. The new hours will be Saturday-Wednesday, 10 By Sgt. Paul Schneider Branch Medical Clinic and Morale, which require immediate attention areas on Pyramid and North a.m.-8 p.m., and Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. The Stall WNW Welfare and Recreation, pool. or for stabilization before Beaches and gave some tips to change will be made on a trial basis, with continuance contingent At the meeting, Cmdr. Elizabeth transferring the patient to Triple:. avoid problems. He said he can upon patronage. Barker, the family The Neighborhood Quality of nurse Army Medical Center. and does give water safety practitioner, Branch Medical Clinic !s Life Board meeting May 27 left "Our primary mission here presentations to units or station many of explained to the audience about the care of active duty Marines organizations who request it. the members wondering the services offered at the if all the problems on the station clinic. and Marine dependents, but we Besides the station water safety, have One of the major items she stressed are not a hospital," Barker said. Diane Hoepfner, station been solved as the meeting was why the clinic had the smallest attendance in cannot offer Following the presentation by coordinator for the American Red several months. a 24-hour emergency room. the clinic, Matt Colapinto, MWR Cross, gave out water safety Inside Barker explained that the clinic water safety manager, spoke about information for off base beaches. About 20 people were in does not have any board certified water safety and the summer swim Following the speakers the floor attendance at the meeting - many emergency room specialists nor do progra ms. was opened for concerns and of whom were station staff they have the billets, facility or Water safety continues to be a suggestions. The only suggestion members. Only one suggestion requirement to have a full major concern as problems on the brought up was about opening the came from the floor following the emergency room. The Acute Care beaches continue. Colapinto See NQLB, A-2 Personal pro- tective mea- JTF-FA seeks to find those still missing sures can help prevent injuries and to provide records and Joint Public Affairs Office documentation to give the answers that the groups need pertaining to On the missing. a day which military "The fullest possible accounting personnel are remembered for the ultimate sacrifice there we seek entails either the return are still of any unaccounted for Americans questions concerning those missing or the from the Vietnam War. repatriation of the remains The MIA/ of those deceased. In the absence POW issue remains a hot topic in of the United States on Memorial either of the above, a full Day. accounting requires a compelling explanation why neither can he A number of groups which are produced," to seek on the letter stated. Blotter A-2 continuing the truth The the MIA/POW issue were hard at Joint Task Force-Full Briefs A-10 Accounting, headquartered at work to find some answers. Camp Sports B-1 The Veterans of Foreign War H. M. Smith has also been active in the past few days. The Intramural Standings B-2 (VFW) have sent a letter to the task force is comprised of members Sports Briefs B-2 Vietnamese Government urging of the full cooperation of all four services with combined Education corner B-2 that expertise in government to Premier Vo Van linguistics, MWR offerings B-2 Kiet, Chairman of Vietnam's investigations, casualty resolution, Spice B-3 explosive ordnance disposal, Council of Ministers. anthropology and Mess hall menu B-3 The letter was hand delivered aircraft by Kerry, wreckage analysis.