Weather impacts health care availability: Inclement conditions affect medical clinic winter schedule

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Sarah Lindsay
  • 62nd Medical Support Squadron
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  If you've lived in Washington for some time, you may have noticed that our normally mild winters can include snow and ice. These conditions do not bode well for safe driving conditions. 

In the event that this winter follows similar trends, the 62nd Medical and Dental Clinics and pharmacy will follow the same rules of engagement as determined for the rest of the base with respect to delayed starts or closures. 

Please be aware that this may affect your medical appointment. The medical staff will make every effort to address each individual's health care needs should they be impacted. There are several things people can do to minimize inconveniences should their appointment be on a delayed or late start day. If the delayed start does not affect your appointment time, people should come to the clinic as they normally would. 

For example, if the base has a 9 a.m. start time, the clinic will be able to take the 9 a.m. appointment. However, it will not see an 8:40 a.m. appointment. Should people arrive late, the clinic will not be able to guarantee that their appointment is not given to someone else. 

If an appointment is affected by the late start -- the appointment time comes before the designated start time -- people have two options: 

For routine concerns, call the TRICARE Regional Appointment Center at 1-800-404-4506 to reschedule the appointment. 

For urgent issues, people are welcome to walk-in to the clinic
and will be prioritized according to the urgency of the health care concern. 

As always, emergency health care issues are addressed by the Madigan Army Medical Center Emergency Room or by dialing 911. Please direct any questions or concerns to the 62nd MDG group practice manager, Capt. Merritt Brockman, at 253-982-9154.