MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON -- Camp Pendleton residents learned of major changes to base health services during the quarterly Health Services Town Hall Meeting at the Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital June 28.
The purpose of the meeting was to inform the base community of what is happening at the hospital.
Navy Capt. Steven M. Nichols, the commanding officer for Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, addressed recent and up-coming improvements to medical facilities throughout Camp Pendleton.
Hospital staff plan changes quarterly to improve the care and service that the hospital is capable of providing its patients, said Douglas W. Allen, the public affairs officer for the hospital.
One of the changes involves the optometry department, now located in the 13 Area Branch Medical Clinic, which will relocate to the third floor of the hospital in Aug. or Sept. 2006. The move will provide room for a Sports Medicine and Reconditioning Team clinic in the 13 ABHC.
Chiropractic services, serving active duty only, will be relocating to the two SMART clinic locations in the 13 ABHC and 52 ABHC.
Adding chiropractic care to those areas will make services more accessible to the Marines who need them, said Nichols during the meeting.
Additional physical therapy staff will allow for TRICARE Prime enrolled family members to begin receiving physical therapy treatment the summer of 2006. Patients will be able to receive treatment on Camp Pendleton instead of being referred to a civilian network for care.
If all facility work proceeds on time, a Wounded Warrior Center will open on Camp Pendleton Aug. 10.
The hospital places wounded warriors as its top priority, said Nichols. The WWC will allow wounded Marines and Sailors to recover closer to home and be housed with others who have experienced similar problems, Nichols added.
A West Coast Comprehensive Combat Casualty Care Center will also be opening in the late summer or early fall of 2006 in Balboa to better serve wounded servicemembers.
Nearly 100 new spaces will be added to patient and staff parking areas during the summer of 2006.
With the donation of two six-passenger golf carts, hospital parking lot shuttle services will be available as soon as volunteer drivers are fully trained.
The next town hall meeting is scheduled for Sept. 6.
Additional information can be found at the hospital’s new website, www.cpen.med.navy.mil.