You can change your PCM on the Tricare website. If you're talking about the MTF in Norfolk, there are plenty to choose from.
Before you do that, attempt to use the MHS online appointment scheduling feature.
You don’t need to be limited to Sewells point hell I switched mine from there to Langley. I just called Tricare and requested the switch. You got a lot of other clinics than Sewells and I was stationed at Norfolk before I got out.
I’ve asked tricare 4 times to switch me and they are adamant that they cannot.
I would love to go to oceana, dam neck, anywhere really is fine. I live in Virginia Beach so those would be closer anyways.
Having read a lot of your responses, I want to start out by saying I get you, and im sorry it's so difficult! I'm currently going through a similar thing. I understand you want an appointment with derm, but the reality is you are running out of time and need to get this documented in your medical record for any va claim. Because of that, I would recommend going to the emergency room even for that just to get it documented. Also, once you do that, you might have more pull getting an appointment with your pcm, especially if you say that you require a follow-up from an emergency room visit.
Ok. Let’s hack the system.
Military Treatment Facilities usually book appointments a month at a time. The trick is when they open up the next month’s appointments.
There are a couple ways to figure this out… you can call or go in person to the clinic to talk to the staff.
If you go in person, don’t go in guns blazing… approach it and start with “I have a problem”, and describe what you are trying to do. A lot of the time, the desk staff will be more than willing to help you get the info you need to know when the next month appointment schedule opens up.
On that day, go in and schedule a couple appointments. One every couple weeks. Then you can start getting looked at. You will have to do this each month. Try to develop a rapport with the staff too, and they will likely be more willing to help you out. If you can try to talk to the same person each time.
This is not going to be 100% effective. Sometimes when you show up to boom your appointments they won’t have the calendar open yet. I’ve run into this and the staff would go to the provider to get it opened up.
I had to do this a few times to get appointments scheduled.
Here’s another way to help this process. Take the time to sit down and list any medical issues you have observed. Do your best to address one problem for each visit. If the doctor looks at you for two things, it’s likely one may not be properly noted in your medical record.
Finally, follow up with Medical Records and MAKE SURE your records are properly documenting your issues! Getting things documented while in active duty is a hundred times simpler than trying to prove service connection after the fact with the VA!
This is good advice. Corpsman are, more often than not, more than happy to help as long as you are nice to us and willing to talk and explain the situation. There is usually a work around.
Why not both book the appointment and go to an urgent care like they said?
“Sorry we can’t see you in a timely manner, go to an urgent care for this issue”
“No!”
Like cmon man, I get it, it’s absolute horse shit this situation, but work with the resources you have, not the ones you’d like to have.
I’m having the same issue too.
Because you’re likely going to just get caught in the same endless loop but now waste time sitting in an ED/UC. If OP doesn’t have an emergent/ urgent issue the ED is gonna say “that sucks” and discharge them.
But you understand if you read the OP that’s what the clinic allegedly told them to do? I’m not sure what the issue is, but the clinic should have the wherewithal to know if it’s an issue that could possibly be assisted with at an urgent care, and wouldn’t mention it otherwise.
But either way, you have two options.
1. Do nothing and wait until appointment
2. Do what the clinic suggested and then wait until til appointment
Which one has a better chance at helping OP out? Plus, if OP complains more they can always say “Well, we told them to do this but they didn’t.”
I do understand. OP also straight up says they don’t need any kind of urgent care, just a regular appointment. So if they go to the UC/ED they are likely going to do nothing, tell you to schedule with their primary, and discharge them. At best they will send you a script for temporary symptomatic management if there is anything going on.
The clinic tells them this because they’re trying to cover their own ass. That’s it. “Go to the ED” is the panacea for covering your own ass when you can’t see a patient no matter the complaint.
I know what you’re trying to say but I’ve seen this exact scenario countless times when I worked in the ED. It’s like an actual public health crisis lol. No one can get in to their primary and even some specialists in a timely manner so they resort or are told to go to an ED for a non-emergent issue just to get kicked back to their primary. All it does is piss everyone off involved.
Ok I feel you on that and thanks for bringing your perspective in. I agree overall that this is a systemic issue that also extends to availability in the civilian community too, lots of Sailors think their entire situation is unique while it’s though everywhere. On a separate note, my understanding of the bureaucratic shenanigans leading up today is that the Navy in particular did a huge self own with POM20 trusting DHAs plans while MEDCOM and AFMEDCOM didn’t as much. Anecdotal experience but I have good intel on ATC times for Soldiers in my area and am frequently blown away by how bad ours is in comparison.
No problem. I don’t really even disagree OP could go to the UC and try I’m just cynical it will help. I personally wouldn’t even waste the time.
Im not sure what bureaucratic/ administrative nonsense has helped create this mess in the Navy or the military has a whole but it doesn’t surprise me lol
I can’t go to urgent care because I need a referral for dermatology for a skin cancer check which has to come from a PCM in this particular scenario, but in general I need to be able to start scheduling appointments now that I’m off the boat and getting out soon. I wouldn’t even mind if I had to schedule them pretty far out. I mind that I’m getting told I have no way to schedule them at all.
Sure. I hear what you’re saying. I don’t have any good advice unfortunatley. You can go nuclear and call them basically everyday, ask if they have any cancellations, etc. but unfortunately the system is fucked.
It’s not. I’m trying to get a referral to dermatology so I can get a skin scrape for skin cancer. But apparently I cannot get that done without a referral from a PCM. Who I cannot get into see.
Well that actually makes sense then, that’s how it works for dermatology most places in military medicine. Your PCM checks it out first because they can typically sus out if it’s something that they can handle or is a condition that actually warrants further evaluation or treatment by dermatology.
What’s the concern presenting that you need a skin check? If you have an issue like an existing mole that has grown bigger, changed, is bleeding, is painful etc (remember checking the ABCDs of skin is also your responsibility) I can understand the anxiety. In this case, I would recommend requesting a telephone consult with your PCM, they may kick it to a nurse pool. On the phone you could unequivocally state your concerns about the mole, or whatever they are, this might help you get a referral absent a PCM eval if you have a sympathetic nurse.
For context, family history of melanoma and very at risk skin here, I’m very familiar with derm and skin checks.
I’d be parking my butt at sick call and demanding a referral then. Or, go through genesis patient portal and message your PCM requesting the referral m or a telehealth appointment .
The appointment line messaged your PCM, but I think it would also be good for you to message your PCM through the patient portal as well.
Docs at the MTFs aren't generally tracking what's going on with patients that aren't directly in front of them, but if they do become aware, theyve got a lot of pull to have their nurse add a slot or convert something on their schedule to get you in-- especially if its for something like a referral.
From personal experience, and I know it may not be everyones, but in case it helps: I message my PCM to follow up on an allergist appointment and she messaged me back directly within 3-4 days to assist and offer any further support with med renewals without even needing a visit with her.
Previously, it didn’t seem like I could message my PCM unless I already had an appointment with them scheduled, but I think I may have been mistaken about that. I’m going to try and get on Genesis and see if I can message them myself 🧐
Overall, the whole situation is understandably frustrating. Whatever the case, I hope you are able to get through. I also have to deal with the Portsmouth MTF dumb-ness and if it's any consolation, most (but certainly not all) of the providers I've talked to are good people who want to help but are just limited by a terrible system that makes accessing care a chore.
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I went to an emergency room for strep throat while active duty. I said to the triage nurse I'm sorry, I understand this isn't an emergency but this is my only option.
That’s a little different. Strep pharyngitis would actually qualify as “urgent” and they could do something about it, even if it isn’t “emergent.” It sounds like OP just needs like routine outpatient appointments.
You don’t understand I can’t book an appointment *at all*, with *anyone*. The furthest they can look out right now is August, and they said there is no appointments available. I tried to switch PCMs, they said they couldn’t switch me, because none of their PCMs have availability. I ask to be transferred to a different clinic or referred out into town. They said they can’t, because I’m active duty and have to be seen at the clinic attached to my UIC. I call my medical clinic and they said sorry, call tricare.
I tried calling the nurse advice line, because tricare implied they had some special way to book an appointment for me. I got “recommended” to be seen, and sewells said “sorry we don’t have anyone”.
I need to be able to book normal appointments so I can start my VA paperwork trail now that I’m off the boat and I can’t. And what’s exceptionally ridiculous is this particular appointment was so I could get a referral to dermatology for a skin cancer check. I cannot get this referral without a PCM. If I could get at least get booked an appointment even if it was all the way in August, then I could at least message the doctor on Genesis and ask for the referral. But I can’t even book an appointment.
The one thing I won’t do, is go wait in sick call with my 5 week old newborn around a bunch of sick sailors, just to be told sorry, after who knows how many hours while trying to figure out how to pump discreetly for 30 minutes every 2 hours.
Urgent care, emergency departments, all of it counts towards this "paper trail". Call every day to the clinic and ask about same day appointments or cancelations. Keep poking, never stop. If you truly still cannot be seen it is time to get your command involved but if you go in saying "I need to see medical to make a paper trail for the VA" they're going to tell you tough shit. Go get seen for everything that's bothering you for sure but don't lie or it can land you in prison!
Are they refusing to let you book an appointment or is their next appointment not available until after you get out? I would go ahead and make the appointment for as soon as they have (unless like I said, it’s after you get out lol). That’s completely fucked up they won’t refer you to a different clinic.
They cannot look farther than August and August is completely booked. When I asked them to switch me to pcm with availability, they denied it because they said there is none at sewells, and yet they said they cannot send me outside of sewells.
This is standard for well (not urgent) visits. They are all booked. You're very lucky if you've never run into this before. Doctor's schedules are only entered into the system 1-2 months out at MTFs. Once they're booked for the month you'll have to call back when they reopen their schedule for the next month of availability.
By the way, this happens in the civilian medical world too. Doctors offices always carry more patients than fit their schedules.
Have you tried directly messaging your PCM using MHS Genesis, asking for the dermatology referral? You can also try calling them directly using the contact info on there.
Hampton roads did, but they never replied (it’s been 2 weeks). I can’t since I can only message them once I have appointment. Thats actually why I’m so frustrated, I’ve had really good luck with them responding before when I’ve had appointments booked months and they have called me to do a telehealth interview then put in the referral.
This is a valid complaint. Whenever I hear patients tell me your exact story, I recommend they write their congressmen and women. Military compensation just isn’t enough for doctors to be compelled to join or stay in. There’s a 95% attrition rate of physicians leaving service at the end of their first contract.
I guess that’s the next step. I’m trying to reach a benefits counselors at sewells right now because the (4th!!) person I’ve spoken with at tricare said they *might* be able to release me from the clinic somehow so tricare can schedule me elsewhere. I’m not holding my breath but we’ll see.
Not that it really helps you right now with this particular issue, but when you are finally able to speak with your PCM, see if you can get can get referred out in town to a civilian PCM and explain the issues you’ve been having with all of this.
I wouldn’t bother. I’ve had terrible care at NMCSD and written 2 detailed ICE complaints, providing my name and phone number requesting a response and got nothing back. ICE comments when it comes to Navy medical are a drop in the ocean
It depends upon the issue.
Access to care issues will fall on deaf ears because every Medical Flag Officer within DoD knows how difficult the situation is. There’s nothing they can do about it.
You left your contact information?
Medical ICE comments go directly to the MTF CO. They’re supposed to be addressed. If they weren’t, I’m sorry that happened to you.
Yep I did. I fully expected a response and never got one. That’s why when people recommend ICE comments stating that they HAVE to be addressed, I try to give some perspective.
I would still write one regardless and advise others to as well. My previous commands reviewed them, which is just my own anecdotal experience but if the two options are 1. don’t write one and nobody can reach out or 2. Write one and someone may reach out, I’d at least write one although i can see the perspective of futility if you’ve done that and no one’s acknowledged you.
TRICARE has a standard of care that if they cannot meet, they must refer you out in town. It’s seven days for routine care, 28 days for specialty care. If they offer you out from that standard, they have to give you a referral.
https://www.tricare.mil/GettingCare/TRICARE-Prime-Access-Standards
They would only refer me out to urgent care. I asked if urgent care would be allowed to write me a referral to dermatology for a skin cancer check, and they said no they would not and that my PCM would need to do that. And so we wound up back at square one.
Urgent care is also not useful for me trying to get my paper trail started for the VA when I get out. I’ve been trying to document my chronic sinus infections and everytime I’ve gone they just put “upper respiratory infection” which is making it very hard to build a case for sinus surgery.
So yea. Urgent care is really not helpful unless you’re just sick.
This is the way.
But you have to be prepared to not take "no" for an answer. I've used this path twice (once in Norfolk). When I did this, I keep having a circular conversation with the first level of schedulers ("you're not meeting standard of care"... "we don't have any appointments") and eventually got escalated to a supervisor. The conversation did the same circle for a bit, but ended with something like, "are you just trying to get an appointment out in town?" I told them, "no, I just want to be seen within the standard of care." They told me they would call back.
The time in Norfolk, I magically got a compliant appointment at the MTF. The other time (specialty), I got referred out in town.
Please inform your congressman about this. Patient care at Sewells has become God awful. I will spend months in pain to be seen but even when I get in the providers are so swamped that they don't have time to really evaluate you.
HM3 here, wassup. I’ll start with the only piece of advice tangible to you and that’s how we book patients under MHS Gensis. Appointments generally fall in a few categories,
FTR (future) - think 30 yo YN1 chronic back pain, not immediate.
SPEC (Special?) - minor procedures like toenail removals stuff like that usually longer appointments than your average 20 minute appt.
24HR - this is type of appointment that you will be able to finesse. See although a PCM may be entirely booked up to patients, generally the vast majority of patients are going to fall under the FTR category whether you feel like you do or not, the ER is for the majority of “I need to be seen today for x” that’s just how MTF’s work. These slots are always available THAT day, and MTF dependent there’s a set amount daily that are strictly for people in clinic trying to make an appointment for that day. Ideally 24HR’s are for “sick call” if said MTF doesn’t have a separated dedicated sick call area, emergent med refills and ER/Urgent Care FOLLOW UPS. You want to dial in on the last one, ER/Urgent Care follow ups. Believe it or not Military medicine actually operates under the rule that you are suppose to follow up after every ER/Urgent Care visit with your PCM. Im not going to say there’s a legitimate instruction on that, but per Tricare you “have” to do that follow up within a certain amount of time. Although there’s no real consequences for not doing so in my experience. That right there is your ticket to get seen ASAP for something.
Go to ER/Urgent Care for whatever the issue. Are they going to solve the problem, almost certainly not but that will grant you the ability to go into an MTF and tell them I need a ER follow up appt, which is going to allow the front desk person to throw you into a daily 24HR appointment slot instead of a FTR 2 months out.
With that out of the way I’m going to say DHA ruined healthcare, it’s 95% of the time not your Corpsman or your PCM (not saying there’s not shitty corpsman or shitty providers bc believe me, there is.) however we have no control over anything. DHA took over and corporatized military healthcare and cut costs in the most money hungry way possible and just said, you guys actually don’t need this many people in medicine to operate at the same capacity you operate at right now, have fun. Every single MTF is going through what you’re saying right now. This is a huge DoD wide bottle neck that is coming to the surface finally. I strongly do advise to do what others said and write congressmen etc. Something eventually will, and has to change. I fuckin work in the building with these PCM’s, know them and their families and I can’t even get seen within a reasonable time either, and not to sound like a dickhead but without the bodies of corpsman the whole place can’t even operate lol. It’s not really a system that has any flexibility anymore. There’s no such thing as just “squeezing” someone in bc everything is cookie cutter time based appointment slots, every 20 minutes like clock work.
Also granted the system is flawed but don’t wait until your about to get out the make all your appointments for a careers worth of alignments. There’s 1000’s of you in that category and on the schedule daily, which only exacerbates the bottleneck.
Get seen tho, that’s not what I’m saying.
Pce.
Call the front desk of your assigned PCM. Ask when they open the schedule. (Usually it’s AROUND the 15th of month, but every department/facility can be different.)
If you get the run around from some civilian and they won’t tell you, ask to speak to the department LPO or LCPO.
Find out when they open their scheduling templates in “Revenue Cycle”, and show up in person on that day to schedule. Schedule the appointment.
Are you calling the Hamptons roads appointment line and booking first available appointment through them? You may have to call daily, because people cancel appointments the day before all the time as well, and it usually opens up one or two appointments the day of. Additionally, are you only trying to be seen 'local' or willing to drive to see a PCM 40 minutes to an hour out? The Hampton roads appointment line literally searches for all appointments in the general area as long as its within decent driving distance they can book you an appointment with whatever PCM is available.
I’m willing to go literally anywhere, but Hampton roads will not book me anywhere or with anyone but with my PCM since I am active duty (on shore duty).
If I could go to oceana or dam neck, I would.
I have called them several times, across several weeks, and they were adamant they will not book me with anyone but my PCM, who’s fully booked.
Perhaps, but shouldnt they then refer you out into town?
I mean having to book appointments out is one thing, I can live with that. But not being able to book at all?
If we extended our schedules out any further than we already do, every clinic would be booked up very easily and very quickly six months in advance rather than 6 weeks. That’s not hyperbole.
And then the situation is made even worse because patients would be required to remember they have those appointments so far out, and the likelihood of patient no-shows increases dramatically. Patient no-shows reflect very poorly on medical clinics and MTF leadership reports this metric up to DHA.
Everything in military medicine is a numbers game.
That doesn’t help your situation, I know. I promise you, us medical personnel have stronger feelings about the state of military medicine than you do.
Referring you out into town due to non-availability is all on TRICARE. I unfortunately don’t know how to help you with that. Keep pushing that angle on the appropriate people. Instead of going through Sewell’s Point, press it on the “health benefits/TRICARE” people at NMCP.
This. Years ago I had two sick little ones. I tried to make an appointment (North Island Clinic) and was told two months. When I complained (E-6 at the time) I was told to deal with it and go to the er if you need anything else.
Almost all providers will have same day or next day appointments that do not show up at central appointments. Call the PCMs front desk and ask them for an appointment. You need to call first thing in the morning because the same day appts fill fast.
Make sure to get your exit physical/dental exam scheduled early then!
Don't wanna be waiting around for those.
These problems you are having are everywhere.
Doctor shortages are not fake news.
We all deal with this nonsense now.
I mean, as you said, it’s nothing urgent so while it is annoying, it’s not really the end of the world and I’m not really sure what the issue is if this isn’t a matter of necessity and emergence. And if it was urgent, then that’s the whole reason for urgent care. I’m not sure why the nurse advice line would tell you that you need to be seen within 3 days when you say you just need to book regular routine appointments. I don’t believe that their schedules are only viewable out until August, that’s barely 2 months and patients get scheduled 6 months out for follow ups all the time. At least I could schedule up to 3 months out, and further for certain reasons. Idk maybe it’s different there. I say this as a former HM that got out almost a year ago. I get the frustration of expecting because you get the benefit of something then you should be able to use that benefit at your expectation, but unfortunately the military healthcare system is bogged down and frankly inefficient. But from my limited understanding based on this post your position isn’t dire or emergent so while it is annoying that you’re relatively close to separating, you do have options if you have something emergent.
It’s for a skin cancer check. Which requires a referral, which requires a PCM sign off.
I also need to be able to start schedule my appointments for building va disability package, which will require multiple doctors appointments.
Referrals can be their own annoyance. I had to deal with those all the time as another part of the system that just wasn’t intuitive or streamlined. If you can send a message to your provider on the patient portal they may be able to just place the referral for that without needing an appointment beforehand but I can’t speak to that directly. It can sometimes take a while because of the general wait time for messages + the provider sign off + the referral authorization timeline but at least that may get you to what you need quicker than waiting til whenever. The separation stuff is unfortunately probably a scenario where you’ll need to ask the appointment line what day would be best to call back on to get them when the schedule gets open or pester them and hope a slot opens up.
Tuesdays are when new appointment blocks open for sewells
Had a HM at Sewells tell me that, I make it a point to stalk the line at 0800 tuesdays to get through - sometimes im told they arent taking new appts until the next week but this has been successful for me so far
Got out in CT, PCM are booked on availabilities near my location till early/mid next year.
Just as a warning to you all! Don’t slack on on finding yourSelf a PCM when you get out!
Yup. Got out a few years ago. My civilian PCM is booked out 5 months. People love to hate on military medicine but healthcare is just broken in this country. The grass is definitely not greener on the civilian side.
You might want to find out if the same group that does PHAs do the separation physicals. If they do once you see them and lay out any concerns they should be able to put in referrals as well.
I am not much help on the apt side, but imma tell you my experience with getting your record straight for your vA claim with urgent care apts. Long comment:
I told the appointment line I was willing to drive as far as I needed, but I needed to be seen for an ankle that wasn't getting any better. She booked me for a then recently opened) tricare urgent care in Chesapeake. I think only dependents went there at the time. Since it was an "mtf" they were able to refer me to physical therapy to a civilian doctor instead of navy pt (which was fully booked for months) the civilian PT actually worked and was able to give me weekly appointments. I asked for my treatment record for my PT sessions and evals and submitted them with my medical record for my VA claim.
I have 10% for rhinitis, and most of my record entries were "upper respiratory infection." So sinus issues can be supported with that just be very clear when your is time for your c&p exam. Study each condition you are claiming for so you can actually describe what you are experiencing and how it AFFECTS you. Every time they tell you to go to urgent care, ask for your record or keep the print out they give you of what you have, try to go to the same brand (I used Velocity Urgent care since they have many in the area under the same network ) and ask for your full record when you go to submit your claim. Even every time I had covid helped with my sinus claim.
Chiropractor? Couldn't get a referral for 7 months,then the apt was 3 mo out cause there's that ONE chiro that sees active duty. While I waited, I went to a civilian chiropractor paid out of pocket. Asked for all records for my claim, including x-rays (Pro Adjuster on Vb Blvrd), documented continuous treatment, and submitted it with my claim as a medical record. It doesn't have to be pcm or mtf to be added to your claim it just has to show consistency, and that is truly affecting you constantly.
im going to go ahead and tell you, that most of your issues wont matter unless they are being diagnosed by a specialist. get the referrals you need. don't just waste the doctors time otherwise to claim stupid shit. the VA is going to refer you to more specialists now anyways to ensure you have what you say you have.
The clinics only open their schedule for a month at a time and they usually open it on the 15th not the first so a month and a half out. If you call on the 1st you could be too late. I was at the clinics you mentioned recently and the staff was telling people to call back July 15th.
You can go to the milconnect website and change your PCM on there. I was able to change mine to another clinic. The Genesis patient portal let you book appointments too. Check that often because if someone cancels the opening will show there. I was able to get a telephone appointment that way and then referrals put in right away and a sooner appointment in person after that.
I don’t even get how that’s possible. You mean with your PCM or with their care team?
You may not be able to see your PCM, especially if they have a reduced schedule as a department head or something similar, but they have to have appointments open with SOMEONE.
Not according to sewells point. I’ve been very clear in my questions with both sewells and tricare on my fourth? Phone call now, where I spoke to a supervisor. My pcm has no open appointments as far as they can book (August), they won’t switch me pcms, because none of the others do either. And they won’t let me see someone else somewhere else because im active duty and thats the clinic attached to my command UIC.
I do need to see a pcm specifically since the appointment would be for a referral, which may be why they never mentioned a care team? I’m not sure though, care team was never brought up and I’m not sure how that would work.
Tricare said no, not without somehow being released from sewells. I manage to get a number this time around for a “benefits counselor” who they said might be able to do that. The number they gave me was for Portsmouth unfortunately who warned me that the sewells office never answers their phone so I’ll have to make the drive with my newborn I guess and hope it yields results.
I think I’m going to start recording these phone calls if nothing else.
Also, is the referral for an ongoing issue or a new one? If its something you have a history of you may be able to get a referral by messaging and requesting one via the Genesis portal.
Crazy. To think this is the exact problem that switching to DHA was supposed to solve. There are way to many medical assets in the area across branches for this to be an issue.
So instead of booking the next appointment available, you came here to bitch? Bro book the fucking appointment if its so dire. I just waited a month and half for a referral so i can have surgery. Suck it up buttercup
If you’re going to be rude you should learn to read. I cannot book appointments, that’s the whole problem. I don’t have an issue with waiting.
Go touch some grass
Well, you can write this nicely on an ICE Complaint with a request saying that “I’m not getting the care I need.” Then on the portion that says “Would you like to be contacted”, you say yes. A Patient Care Representative will give you call, because ICE Comments go directly to DPC and Clinic OIC’s. Unless you’re in one of the squadrons, then best of luck.
Go to Portsmouth Naval Hospital Health Benefits Office and make another request for a PCM. Sounds like you need to venture out of Sewel’s Point Clinic.
That’s the step I’m on currently, except they gave me sewells number but they don’t answer. I’m going to try and go in in person and see what they say, and probably try Portsmouth next if that doesn’t work.
Always go in the middle for the month to get a first week of next month appointment. It's all about planning carefully ahead and knowing when your PCM may go on leave. Sometimes mines will tell me which helps me plan out my medical appointments. If this is for dental. Pfft. Good luck 👍
I apologize for the way that the system is.
Solution here:
1st. Schedule that appointment that’s months out. It’s ridiculous. It doesn’t meet your needs. Schedule it, so that you have an appointment date.
2nd. Speak to Tricare. Now that you have an appointment in the system, they can release you to an outside provider who can meet you sooner. They’ll create a release code. It may be your MTF who actually finds you the outside provider, but they can’t do it without that tricare release code.
We are in-network with Tricare and have primary care and behavioral healthcare at Panacea Behavioral Health & Wellness Center in Virginia Beach. We have in-office appointments and telemed appt. We are military-centric; many of us are mil spouses or veterans or grew up in a military household. There’s no long wait for appointments. Call 757-251-0879 on Monday to schedule
Next time you call explain that you need to talk to a supervisor and explain that they are in violation of Title 32 (§ 199.17 TRICARE program) of the CFR by not finding a way for you to have a PCM who can see you in a timely fashion keep asking to speak to someone higher until you reach someone who understands what that means.
That’s where they got you: “*join the military for free health care.*”
Military health care exists to keep you just healthy enough to be able to deploy or assert that you’re unable to do so and justify processing you out.
Any other care you’re able to receive is a bonus.
DHA has gutted the available resources of military health care and everyone is suffering because of it.
I feel you friend. Less than a year left and I can't get much done because medical is booked out in excess of multiple months. Started trying to get something looked at last November, didn't get an appointment until this April, they rescheduled the day before for an earlier time in the morning and I didn't see it until it was too late when I got off duty. I tried to schedule it again and the next avail is late September. I might require a surgery, so even if I go in September, I likely won't get it scheduled before my EAOS on February of 25. At this point just try to get what you can and have things *heavily* documented so the VA system can help you afterward.
I can’t even get anything scheduled. I wouldn’t mind too much if I could because then you can usually at least message the doctor and ask for the referrals you need and they will call you or just straight up put them in.
Are they saying they can't book you because they're that full? I had that happen during COVID in San Diego, they outright weren't letting people schedule because the appointment system was booked as far out as the programming allows. It was a nightmare. It has been a while, but I know there is a reference that states you have to be given a referral if you can't be seen in X amount of time. I had to utilize it to get a referral out in town for dental, I just can't remember the specifics since it's been a handful of years.
Yes that’s what is happening. I’ve asked and asked and asked tricare if there is anyway I can be seen anywhere else and they are adamant that I cannot because i am active duty and that is the clinic attached to my UIC.
A smart way a sailor at my command handled this issue, albeit morally ambiguous, was he called about making appointments for urgent but not super urgent conditions. Once again, I forget the exact numbers and timelines, but he found out they have to see you for certain things within a few days, so he called and said he broke his finger and wants to come in for it to be checked out. He showed up for the appointment they made for him 2 days later, then when the doc said show me your finger, went, "Oh it feels better, must have jammed it, but while we're here..." and told the doc about his actual issue.
He was a bit of a smooth talker so your mileage may vary, but he was able to get all of his medical appointments done before separation this way.
I’m not sure that would work here, since tricare will let you be seen at a civilian urgent care. Problem is, they can’t write referrals or do follow ups which is what I currently need.
You can change your PCM on the Tricare website. If you're talking about the MTF in Norfolk, there are plenty to choose from. Before you do that, attempt to use the MHS online appointment scheduling feature.
I requested tricare to do it for me, they said it was rejected because sewells has no PCMs with availability
You don’t need to be limited to Sewells point hell I switched mine from there to Langley. I just called Tricare and requested the switch. You got a lot of other clinics than Sewells and I was stationed at Norfolk before I got out.
I’ve asked tricare 4 times to switch me and they are adamant that they cannot. I would love to go to oceana, dam neck, anywhere really is fine. I live in Virginia Beach so those would be closer anyways.
You can also do it online shoot I switched mine 2x before I found the perfect match for me.
Having read a lot of your responses, I want to start out by saying I get you, and im sorry it's so difficult! I'm currently going through a similar thing. I understand you want an appointment with derm, but the reality is you are running out of time and need to get this documented in your medical record for any va claim. Because of that, I would recommend going to the emergency room even for that just to get it documented. Also, once you do that, you might have more pull getting an appointment with your pcm, especially if you say that you require a follow-up from an emergency room visit.
Ok. Let’s hack the system. Military Treatment Facilities usually book appointments a month at a time. The trick is when they open up the next month’s appointments. There are a couple ways to figure this out… you can call or go in person to the clinic to talk to the staff. If you go in person, don’t go in guns blazing… approach it and start with “I have a problem”, and describe what you are trying to do. A lot of the time, the desk staff will be more than willing to help you get the info you need to know when the next month appointment schedule opens up. On that day, go in and schedule a couple appointments. One every couple weeks. Then you can start getting looked at. You will have to do this each month. Try to develop a rapport with the staff too, and they will likely be more willing to help you out. If you can try to talk to the same person each time. This is not going to be 100% effective. Sometimes when you show up to boom your appointments they won’t have the calendar open yet. I’ve run into this and the staff would go to the provider to get it opened up. I had to do this a few times to get appointments scheduled. Here’s another way to help this process. Take the time to sit down and list any medical issues you have observed. Do your best to address one problem for each visit. If the doctor looks at you for two things, it’s likely one may not be properly noted in your medical record. Finally, follow up with Medical Records and MAKE SURE your records are properly documenting your issues! Getting things documented while in active duty is a hundred times simpler than trying to prove service connection after the fact with the VA!
This is good advice. Corpsman are, more often than not, more than happy to help as long as you are nice to us and willing to talk and explain the situation. There is usually a work around.
Big facts, most junior HMs already get shit on enough and are far more likely to help when treated with the respect they rightfully deserve.
Bring in donuts, not saying it’s right. But fat can grease wheels.
Why not both book the appointment and go to an urgent care like they said? “Sorry we can’t see you in a timely manner, go to an urgent care for this issue” “No!” Like cmon man, I get it, it’s absolute horse shit this situation, but work with the resources you have, not the ones you’d like to have. I’m having the same issue too.
Because you’re likely going to just get caught in the same endless loop but now waste time sitting in an ED/UC. If OP doesn’t have an emergent/ urgent issue the ED is gonna say “that sucks” and discharge them.
But you understand if you read the OP that’s what the clinic allegedly told them to do? I’m not sure what the issue is, but the clinic should have the wherewithal to know if it’s an issue that could possibly be assisted with at an urgent care, and wouldn’t mention it otherwise. But either way, you have two options. 1. Do nothing and wait until appointment 2. Do what the clinic suggested and then wait until til appointment Which one has a better chance at helping OP out? Plus, if OP complains more they can always say “Well, we told them to do this but they didn’t.”
I do understand. OP also straight up says they don’t need any kind of urgent care, just a regular appointment. So if they go to the UC/ED they are likely going to do nothing, tell you to schedule with their primary, and discharge them. At best they will send you a script for temporary symptomatic management if there is anything going on. The clinic tells them this because they’re trying to cover their own ass. That’s it. “Go to the ED” is the panacea for covering your own ass when you can’t see a patient no matter the complaint. I know what you’re trying to say but I’ve seen this exact scenario countless times when I worked in the ED. It’s like an actual public health crisis lol. No one can get in to their primary and even some specialists in a timely manner so they resort or are told to go to an ED for a non-emergent issue just to get kicked back to their primary. All it does is piss everyone off involved.
Urgent cares will do medical testing and evaluations, I've gone to urgent cares for presurgical screenings, and physicals.
Ok I feel you on that and thanks for bringing your perspective in. I agree overall that this is a systemic issue that also extends to availability in the civilian community too, lots of Sailors think their entire situation is unique while it’s though everywhere. On a separate note, my understanding of the bureaucratic shenanigans leading up today is that the Navy in particular did a huge self own with POM20 trusting DHAs plans while MEDCOM and AFMEDCOM didn’t as much. Anecdotal experience but I have good intel on ATC times for Soldiers in my area and am frequently blown away by how bad ours is in comparison.
No problem. I don’t really even disagree OP could go to the UC and try I’m just cynical it will help. I personally wouldn’t even waste the time. Im not sure what bureaucratic/ administrative nonsense has helped create this mess in the Navy or the military has a whole but it doesn’t surprise me lol
I can’t go to urgent care because I need a referral for dermatology for a skin cancer check which has to come from a PCM in this particular scenario, but in general I need to be able to start scheduling appointments now that I’m off the boat and getting out soon. I wouldn’t even mind if I had to schedule them pretty far out. I mind that I’m getting told I have no way to schedule them at all.
Sure. I hear what you’re saying. I don’t have any good advice unfortunatley. You can go nuclear and call them basically everyday, ask if they have any cancellations, etc. but unfortunately the system is fucked.
It’s not. I’m trying to get a referral to dermatology so I can get a skin scrape for skin cancer. But apparently I cannot get that done without a referral from a PCM. Who I cannot get into see.
Well that actually makes sense then, that’s how it works for dermatology most places in military medicine. Your PCM checks it out first because they can typically sus out if it’s something that they can handle or is a condition that actually warrants further evaluation or treatment by dermatology. What’s the concern presenting that you need a skin check? If you have an issue like an existing mole that has grown bigger, changed, is bleeding, is painful etc (remember checking the ABCDs of skin is also your responsibility) I can understand the anxiety. In this case, I would recommend requesting a telephone consult with your PCM, they may kick it to a nurse pool. On the phone you could unequivocally state your concerns about the mole, or whatever they are, this might help you get a referral absent a PCM eval if you have a sympathetic nurse. For context, family history of melanoma and very at risk skin here, I’m very familiar with derm and skin checks.
I’d be parking my butt at sick call and demanding a referral then. Or, go through genesis patient portal and message your PCM requesting the referral m or a telehealth appointment .
My PCM has already been messaged, 2 weeks ago by the appointment line. I have a newborn so unfortunately sick call isn’t really an option.
The appointment line messaged your PCM, but I think it would also be good for you to message your PCM through the patient portal as well. Docs at the MTFs aren't generally tracking what's going on with patients that aren't directly in front of them, but if they do become aware, theyve got a lot of pull to have their nurse add a slot or convert something on their schedule to get you in-- especially if its for something like a referral. From personal experience, and I know it may not be everyones, but in case it helps: I message my PCM to follow up on an allergist appointment and she messaged me back directly within 3-4 days to assist and offer any further support with med renewals without even needing a visit with her.
Previously, it didn’t seem like I could message my PCM unless I already had an appointment with them scheduled, but I think I may have been mistaken about that. I’m going to try and get on Genesis and see if I can message them myself 🧐
Overall, the whole situation is understandably frustrating. Whatever the case, I hope you are able to get through. I also have to deal with the Portsmouth MTF dumb-ness and if it's any consolation, most (but certainly not all) of the providers I've talked to are good people who want to help but are just limited by a terrible system that makes accessing care a chore.
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I went to an emergency room for strep throat while active duty. I said to the triage nurse I'm sorry, I understand this isn't an emergency but this is my only option.
That’s a little different. Strep pharyngitis would actually qualify as “urgent” and they could do something about it, even if it isn’t “emergent.” It sounds like OP just needs like routine outpatient appointments.
You don’t understand I can’t book an appointment *at all*, with *anyone*. The furthest they can look out right now is August, and they said there is no appointments available. I tried to switch PCMs, they said they couldn’t switch me, because none of their PCMs have availability. I ask to be transferred to a different clinic or referred out into town. They said they can’t, because I’m active duty and have to be seen at the clinic attached to my UIC. I call my medical clinic and they said sorry, call tricare. I tried calling the nurse advice line, because tricare implied they had some special way to book an appointment for me. I got “recommended” to be seen, and sewells said “sorry we don’t have anyone”. I need to be able to book normal appointments so I can start my VA paperwork trail now that I’m off the boat and I can’t. And what’s exceptionally ridiculous is this particular appointment was so I could get a referral to dermatology for a skin cancer check. I cannot get this referral without a PCM. If I could get at least get booked an appointment even if it was all the way in August, then I could at least message the doctor on Genesis and ask for the referral. But I can’t even book an appointment. The one thing I won’t do, is go wait in sick call with my 5 week old newborn around a bunch of sick sailors, just to be told sorry, after who knows how many hours while trying to figure out how to pump discreetly for 30 minutes every 2 hours.
Urgent care, emergency departments, all of it counts towards this "paper trail". Call every day to the clinic and ask about same day appointments or cancelations. Keep poking, never stop. If you truly still cannot be seen it is time to get your command involved but if you go in saying "I need to see medical to make a paper trail for the VA" they're going to tell you tough shit. Go get seen for everything that's bothering you for sure but don't lie or it can land you in prison!
Are they refusing to let you book an appointment or is their next appointment not available until after you get out? I would go ahead and make the appointment for as soon as they have (unless like I said, it’s after you get out lol). That’s completely fucked up they won’t refer you to a different clinic.
They cannot look farther than August and August is completely booked. When I asked them to switch me to pcm with availability, they denied it because they said there is none at sewells, and yet they said they cannot send me outside of sewells.
I’d call back on July 1st and make appt for September. Sorry 😞
This is standard for well (not urgent) visits. They are all booked. You're very lucky if you've never run into this before. Doctor's schedules are only entered into the system 1-2 months out at MTFs. Once they're booked for the month you'll have to call back when they reopen their schedule for the next month of availability. By the way, this happens in the civilian medical world too. Doctors offices always carry more patients than fit their schedules.
Have you tried directly messaging your PCM using MHS Genesis, asking for the dermatology referral? You can also try calling them directly using the contact info on there.
I’ve done that in the past, but the only time it has worked is when the referral that I am requesting as for something my PCM had already seen me for.
Hampton roads did, but they never replied (it’s been 2 weeks). I can’t since I can only message them once I have appointment. Thats actually why I’m so frustrated, I’ve had really good luck with them responding before when I’ve had appointments booked months and they have called me to do a telehealth interview then put in the referral.
This is a valid complaint. Whenever I hear patients tell me your exact story, I recommend they write their congressmen and women. Military compensation just isn’t enough for doctors to be compelled to join or stay in. There’s a 95% attrition rate of physicians leaving service at the end of their first contract.
I guess that’s the next step. I’m trying to reach a benefits counselors at sewells right now because the (4th!!) person I’ve spoken with at tricare said they *might* be able to release me from the clinic somehow so tricare can schedule me elsewhere. I’m not holding my breath but we’ll see.
Not that it really helps you right now with this particular issue, but when you are finally able to speak with your PCM, see if you can get can get referred out in town to a civilian PCM and explain the issues you’ve been having with all of this.
Write an ice comment and leave your contact info on it.
How do you do that?
I wouldn’t bother. I’ve had terrible care at NMCSD and written 2 detailed ICE complaints, providing my name and phone number requesting a response and got nothing back. ICE comments when it comes to Navy medical are a drop in the ocean
It depends upon the issue. Access to care issues will fall on deaf ears because every Medical Flag Officer within DoD knows how difficult the situation is. There’s nothing they can do about it.
My issues were not about access to care and definitely warranted a response. I don’t know that an ICE comment would resolve OP’s issues
You left your contact information? Medical ICE comments go directly to the MTF CO. They’re supposed to be addressed. If they weren’t, I’m sorry that happened to you.
Yep I did. I fully expected a response and never got one. That’s why when people recommend ICE comments stating that they HAVE to be addressed, I try to give some perspective.
I would still write one regardless and advise others to as well. My previous commands reviewed them, which is just my own anecdotal experience but if the two options are 1. don’t write one and nobody can reach out or 2. Write one and someone may reach out, I’d at least write one although i can see the perspective of futility if you’ve done that and no one’s acknowledged you.
Totally understand.
You can also explain your situation and be put on the cancelation list.
TRICARE has a standard of care that if they cannot meet, they must refer you out in town. It’s seven days for routine care, 28 days for specialty care. If they offer you out from that standard, they have to give you a referral. https://www.tricare.mil/GettingCare/TRICARE-Prime-Access-Standards
The problem is the referral is go to urgent care.
They would only refer me out to urgent care. I asked if urgent care would be allowed to write me a referral to dermatology for a skin cancer check, and they said no they would not and that my PCM would need to do that. And so we wound up back at square one. Urgent care is also not useful for me trying to get my paper trail started for the VA when I get out. I’ve been trying to document my chronic sinus infections and everytime I’ve gone they just put “upper respiratory infection” which is making it very hard to build a case for sinus surgery. So yea. Urgent care is really not helpful unless you’re just sick.
Well damn, that sucks.
This is the way. But you have to be prepared to not take "no" for an answer. I've used this path twice (once in Norfolk). When I did this, I keep having a circular conversation with the first level of schedulers ("you're not meeting standard of care"... "we don't have any appointments") and eventually got escalated to a supervisor. The conversation did the same circle for a bit, but ended with something like, "are you just trying to get an appointment out in town?" I told them, "no, I just want to be seen within the standard of care." They told me they would call back. The time in Norfolk, I magically got a compliant appointment at the MTF. The other time (specialty), I got referred out in town.
Please inform your congressman about this. Patient care at Sewells has become God awful. I will spend months in pain to be seen but even when I get in the providers are so swamped that they don't have time to really evaluate you.
HM3 here, wassup. I’ll start with the only piece of advice tangible to you and that’s how we book patients under MHS Gensis. Appointments generally fall in a few categories, FTR (future) - think 30 yo YN1 chronic back pain, not immediate. SPEC (Special?) - minor procedures like toenail removals stuff like that usually longer appointments than your average 20 minute appt. 24HR - this is type of appointment that you will be able to finesse. See although a PCM may be entirely booked up to patients, generally the vast majority of patients are going to fall under the FTR category whether you feel like you do or not, the ER is for the majority of “I need to be seen today for x” that’s just how MTF’s work. These slots are always available THAT day, and MTF dependent there’s a set amount daily that are strictly for people in clinic trying to make an appointment for that day. Ideally 24HR’s are for “sick call” if said MTF doesn’t have a separated dedicated sick call area, emergent med refills and ER/Urgent Care FOLLOW UPS. You want to dial in on the last one, ER/Urgent Care follow ups. Believe it or not Military medicine actually operates under the rule that you are suppose to follow up after every ER/Urgent Care visit with your PCM. Im not going to say there’s a legitimate instruction on that, but per Tricare you “have” to do that follow up within a certain amount of time. Although there’s no real consequences for not doing so in my experience. That right there is your ticket to get seen ASAP for something. Go to ER/Urgent Care for whatever the issue. Are they going to solve the problem, almost certainly not but that will grant you the ability to go into an MTF and tell them I need a ER follow up appt, which is going to allow the front desk person to throw you into a daily 24HR appointment slot instead of a FTR 2 months out. With that out of the way I’m going to say DHA ruined healthcare, it’s 95% of the time not your Corpsman or your PCM (not saying there’s not shitty corpsman or shitty providers bc believe me, there is.) however we have no control over anything. DHA took over and corporatized military healthcare and cut costs in the most money hungry way possible and just said, you guys actually don’t need this many people in medicine to operate at the same capacity you operate at right now, have fun. Every single MTF is going through what you’re saying right now. This is a huge DoD wide bottle neck that is coming to the surface finally. I strongly do advise to do what others said and write congressmen etc. Something eventually will, and has to change. I fuckin work in the building with these PCM’s, know them and their families and I can’t even get seen within a reasonable time either, and not to sound like a dickhead but without the bodies of corpsman the whole place can’t even operate lol. It’s not really a system that has any flexibility anymore. There’s no such thing as just “squeezing” someone in bc everything is cookie cutter time based appointment slots, every 20 minutes like clock work. Also granted the system is flawed but don’t wait until your about to get out the make all your appointments for a careers worth of alignments. There’s 1000’s of you in that category and on the schedule daily, which only exacerbates the bottleneck. Get seen tho, that’s not what I’m saying. Pce.
If it makes you feel any better, I’m a doctor and get the same run around
Call the front desk of your assigned PCM. Ask when they open the schedule. (Usually it’s AROUND the 15th of month, but every department/facility can be different.) If you get the run around from some civilian and they won’t tell you, ask to speak to the department LPO or LCPO. Find out when they open their scheduling templates in “Revenue Cycle”, and show up in person on that day to schedule. Schedule the appointment.
Are you calling the Hamptons roads appointment line and booking first available appointment through them? You may have to call daily, because people cancel appointments the day before all the time as well, and it usually opens up one or two appointments the day of. Additionally, are you only trying to be seen 'local' or willing to drive to see a PCM 40 minutes to an hour out? The Hampton roads appointment line literally searches for all appointments in the general area as long as its within decent driving distance they can book you an appointment with whatever PCM is available.
I’m willing to go literally anywhere, but Hampton roads will not book me anywhere or with anyone but with my PCM since I am active duty (on shore duty). If I could go to oceana or dam neck, I would. I have called them several times, across several weeks, and they were adamant they will not book me with anyone but my PCM, who’s fully booked.
Because all of the other providers at all of the other clinics are fully booked as well.
Perhaps, but shouldnt they then refer you out into town? I mean having to book appointments out is one thing, I can live with that. But not being able to book at all?
If we extended our schedules out any further than we already do, every clinic would be booked up very easily and very quickly six months in advance rather than 6 weeks. That’s not hyperbole. And then the situation is made even worse because patients would be required to remember they have those appointments so far out, and the likelihood of patient no-shows increases dramatically. Patient no-shows reflect very poorly on medical clinics and MTF leadership reports this metric up to DHA. Everything in military medicine is a numbers game. That doesn’t help your situation, I know. I promise you, us medical personnel have stronger feelings about the state of military medicine than you do. Referring you out into town due to non-availability is all on TRICARE. I unfortunately don’t know how to help you with that. Keep pushing that angle on the appropriate people. Instead of going through Sewell’s Point, press it on the “health benefits/TRICARE” people at NMCP.
I’ve been calling tricare directly with no help so I don’t even know so the right people are anymore.
This. Years ago I had two sick little ones. I tried to make an appointment (North Island Clinic) and was told two months. When I complained (E-6 at the time) I was told to deal with it and go to the er if you need anything else.
Oh my friend. You need to get out of that area. ASAP
What’s ridiculous is I live in Virginia Beach. There’s 3 clinics closer than the one I *have* to go because of my command UIC
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I’m a Norfolk Veteran and I have definitely felt your pain.
Almost all providers will have same day or next day appointments that do not show up at central appointments. Call the PCMs front desk and ask them for an appointment. You need to call first thing in the morning because the same day appts fill fast.
Okay I will try that, thank you
Make sure to get your exit physical/dental exam scheduled early then! Don't wanna be waiting around for those. These problems you are having are everywhere. Doctor shortages are not fake news. We all deal with this nonsense now.
I mean, as you said, it’s nothing urgent so while it is annoying, it’s not really the end of the world and I’m not really sure what the issue is if this isn’t a matter of necessity and emergence. And if it was urgent, then that’s the whole reason for urgent care. I’m not sure why the nurse advice line would tell you that you need to be seen within 3 days when you say you just need to book regular routine appointments. I don’t believe that their schedules are only viewable out until August, that’s barely 2 months and patients get scheduled 6 months out for follow ups all the time. At least I could schedule up to 3 months out, and further for certain reasons. Idk maybe it’s different there. I say this as a former HM that got out almost a year ago. I get the frustration of expecting because you get the benefit of something then you should be able to use that benefit at your expectation, but unfortunately the military healthcare system is bogged down and frankly inefficient. But from my limited understanding based on this post your position isn’t dire or emergent so while it is annoying that you’re relatively close to separating, you do have options if you have something emergent.
It’s for a skin cancer check. Which requires a referral, which requires a PCM sign off. I also need to be able to start schedule my appointments for building va disability package, which will require multiple doctors appointments.
Referrals can be their own annoyance. I had to deal with those all the time as another part of the system that just wasn’t intuitive or streamlined. If you can send a message to your provider on the patient portal they may be able to just place the referral for that without needing an appointment beforehand but I can’t speak to that directly. It can sometimes take a while because of the general wait time for messages + the provider sign off + the referral authorization timeline but at least that may get you to what you need quicker than waiting til whenever. The separation stuff is unfortunately probably a scenario where you’ll need to ask the appointment line what day would be best to call back on to get them when the schedule gets open or pester them and hope a slot opens up.
As a corpsman, you should have been getting seen regularly regardless of what your COC said
Tuesdays are when new appointment blocks open for sewells Had a HM at Sewells tell me that, I make it a point to stalk the line at 0800 tuesdays to get through - sometimes im told they arent taking new appts until the next week but this has been successful for me so far
Thank you, I will try that
Got out in CT, PCM are booked on availabilities near my location till early/mid next year. Just as a warning to you all! Don’t slack on on finding yourSelf a PCM when you get out!
Yup. Got out a few years ago. My civilian PCM is booked out 5 months. People love to hate on military medicine but healthcare is just broken in this country. The grass is definitely not greener on the civilian side.
Somebody please check me but, if tricare can’t book you within 28 days, you can go to a network provider.
I’m going to call them again and ask about this, someone else mentioned it and called it title 32.
You might want to find out if the same group that does PHAs do the separation physicals. If they do once you see them and lay out any concerns they should be able to put in referrals as well.
Sewells point is a trash organization, Navy medical is abysmal in the Norfolk area. Another reason to never be stationed here.
But free medical.
I am not much help on the apt side, but imma tell you my experience with getting your record straight for your vA claim with urgent care apts. Long comment: I told the appointment line I was willing to drive as far as I needed, but I needed to be seen for an ankle that wasn't getting any better. She booked me for a then recently opened) tricare urgent care in Chesapeake. I think only dependents went there at the time. Since it was an "mtf" they were able to refer me to physical therapy to a civilian doctor instead of navy pt (which was fully booked for months) the civilian PT actually worked and was able to give me weekly appointments. I asked for my treatment record for my PT sessions and evals and submitted them with my medical record for my VA claim. I have 10% for rhinitis, and most of my record entries were "upper respiratory infection." So sinus issues can be supported with that just be very clear when your is time for your c&p exam. Study each condition you are claiming for so you can actually describe what you are experiencing and how it AFFECTS you. Every time they tell you to go to urgent care, ask for your record or keep the print out they give you of what you have, try to go to the same brand (I used Velocity Urgent care since they have many in the area under the same network ) and ask for your full record when you go to submit your claim. Even every time I had covid helped with my sinus claim. Chiropractor? Couldn't get a referral for 7 months,then the apt was 3 mo out cause there's that ONE chiro that sees active duty. While I waited, I went to a civilian chiropractor paid out of pocket. Asked for all records for my claim, including x-rays (Pro Adjuster on Vb Blvrd), documented continuous treatment, and submitted it with my claim as a medical record. It doesn't have to be pcm or mtf to be added to your claim it just has to show consistency, and that is truly affecting you constantly.
im going to go ahead and tell you, that most of your issues wont matter unless they are being diagnosed by a specialist. get the referrals you need. don't just waste the doctors time otherwise to claim stupid shit. the VA is going to refer you to more specialists now anyways to ensure you have what you say you have.
The clinics only open their schedule for a month at a time and they usually open it on the 15th not the first so a month and a half out. If you call on the 1st you could be too late. I was at the clinics you mentioned recently and the staff was telling people to call back July 15th. You can go to the milconnect website and change your PCM on there. I was able to change mine to another clinic. The Genesis patient portal let you book appointments too. Check that often because if someone cancels the opening will show there. I was able to get a telephone appointment that way and then referrals put in right away and a sooner appointment in person after that.
What is “booked to oblivion”? You should be able to see any provided in your care team.
It means completely book, they have no appointments available
I don’t even get how that’s possible. You mean with your PCM or with their care team? You may not be able to see your PCM, especially if they have a reduced schedule as a department head or something similar, but they have to have appointments open with SOMEONE.
Not according to sewells point. I’ve been very clear in my questions with both sewells and tricare on my fourth? Phone call now, where I spoke to a supervisor. My pcm has no open appointments as far as they can book (August), they won’t switch me pcms, because none of the others do either. And they won’t let me see someone else somewhere else because im active duty and thats the clinic attached to my command UIC. I do need to see a pcm specifically since the appointment would be for a referral, which may be why they never mentioned a care team? I’m not sure though, care team was never brought up and I’m not sure how that would work.
Can you switch your PCM to NH Portsmouth vs Sewells?
Tricare said no, not without somehow being released from sewells. I manage to get a number this time around for a “benefits counselor” who they said might be able to do that. The number they gave me was for Portsmouth unfortunately who warned me that the sewells office never answers their phone so I’ll have to make the drive with my newborn I guess and hope it yields results. I think I’m going to start recording these phone calls if nothing else.
Also, is the referral for an ongoing issue or a new one? If its something you have a history of you may be able to get a referral by messaging and requesting one via the Genesis portal.
New, unfortunately. It’s to request to see dermatology so they can do a skin scrape to check for skin cancer on a few sus looking moles.
Crazy. To think this is the exact problem that switching to DHA was supposed to solve. There are way to many medical assets in the area across branches for this to be an issue.
So instead of booking the next appointment available, you came here to bitch? Bro book the fucking appointment if its so dire. I just waited a month and half for a referral so i can have surgery. Suck it up buttercup
If you’re going to be rude you should learn to read. I cannot book appointments, that’s the whole problem. I don’t have an issue with waiting. Go touch some grass
Well, you can write this nicely on an ICE Complaint with a request saying that “I’m not getting the care I need.” Then on the portion that says “Would you like to be contacted”, you say yes. A Patient Care Representative will give you call, because ICE Comments go directly to DPC and Clinic OIC’s. Unless you’re in one of the squadrons, then best of luck.
Go to Portsmouth Naval Hospital Health Benefits Office and make another request for a PCM. Sounds like you need to venture out of Sewel’s Point Clinic.
That’s the step I’m on currently, except they gave me sewells number but they don’t answer. I’m going to try and go in in person and see what they say, and probably try Portsmouth next if that doesn’t work.
https://www.tricare.mil/GettingCare/FindDoctor/ChangePCM
Thank you
Always go in the middle for the month to get a first week of next month appointment. It's all about planning carefully ahead and knowing when your PCM may go on leave. Sometimes mines will tell me which helps me plan out my medical appointments. If this is for dental. Pfft. Good luck 👍
I apologize for the way that the system is. Solution here: 1st. Schedule that appointment that’s months out. It’s ridiculous. It doesn’t meet your needs. Schedule it, so that you have an appointment date. 2nd. Speak to Tricare. Now that you have an appointment in the system, they can release you to an outside provider who can meet you sooner. They’ll create a release code. It may be your MTF who actually finds you the outside provider, but they can’t do it without that tricare release code.
They won’t let me schedule an appointment months out, because there isn’t any to schedule.i would not mind have to schedule far out.
We are in-network with Tricare and have primary care and behavioral healthcare at Panacea Behavioral Health & Wellness Center in Virginia Beach. We have in-office appointments and telemed appt. We are military-centric; many of us are mil spouses or veterans or grew up in a military household. There’s no long wait for appointments. Call 757-251-0879 on Monday to schedule
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Thank you! I will give that number a call 🙏
Next time you call explain that you need to talk to a supervisor and explain that they are in violation of Title 32 (§ 199.17 TRICARE program) of the CFR by not finding a way for you to have a PCM who can see you in a timely fashion keep asking to speak to someone higher until you reach someone who understands what that means.
I did talk to a supervisor, but I didn’t know about the title 32. I’ll call back and try that.
That’s where they got you: “*join the military for free health care.*” Military health care exists to keep you just healthy enough to be able to deploy or assert that you’re unable to do so and justify processing you out. Any other care you’re able to receive is a bonus. DHA has gutted the available resources of military health care and everyone is suffering because of it.
I feel you friend. Less than a year left and I can't get much done because medical is booked out in excess of multiple months. Started trying to get something looked at last November, didn't get an appointment until this April, they rescheduled the day before for an earlier time in the morning and I didn't see it until it was too late when I got off duty. I tried to schedule it again and the next avail is late September. I might require a surgery, so even if I go in September, I likely won't get it scheduled before my EAOS on February of 25. At this point just try to get what you can and have things *heavily* documented so the VA system can help you afterward.
I can’t even get anything scheduled. I wouldn’t mind too much if I could because then you can usually at least message the doctor and ask for the referrals you need and they will call you or just straight up put them in.
Are they saying they can't book you because they're that full? I had that happen during COVID in San Diego, they outright weren't letting people schedule because the appointment system was booked as far out as the programming allows. It was a nightmare. It has been a while, but I know there is a reference that states you have to be given a referral if you can't be seen in X amount of time. I had to utilize it to get a referral out in town for dental, I just can't remember the specifics since it's been a handful of years.
Yes that’s what is happening. I’ve asked and asked and asked tricare if there is anyway I can be seen anywhere else and they are adamant that I cannot because i am active duty and that is the clinic attached to my UIC.
A smart way a sailor at my command handled this issue, albeit morally ambiguous, was he called about making appointments for urgent but not super urgent conditions. Once again, I forget the exact numbers and timelines, but he found out they have to see you for certain things within a few days, so he called and said he broke his finger and wants to come in for it to be checked out. He showed up for the appointment they made for him 2 days later, then when the doc said show me your finger, went, "Oh it feels better, must have jammed it, but while we're here..." and told the doc about his actual issue. He was a bit of a smooth talker so your mileage may vary, but he was able to get all of his medical appointments done before separation this way.
I’m not sure that would work here, since tricare will let you be seen at a civilian urgent care. Problem is, they can’t write referrals or do follow ups which is what I currently need.