MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Gathered in a room on the ground floor of the Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital, members of the base's community came together for a town hall meeting to discuss the base's healthcare program Aug. 23.
About 50 active duty servicemembers, family members and hospital staff assembled to exchange ideas on how the hospital is taking measures to improve its services. The four areas covered were access to care, the pharmacy, the Exceptional Family Member Program and mental health services.
Navy Capt. Steven M. Nichols, the hospital's commanding officer, kicked off the night by discussing customer service.
"Access to healthcare is the most important factor," Nichols said. "If we promise to call a patient back, that's exactly what we should do."
Access to care was one of the most popular subjects discussed by the council. The crowd, which was made up of an array of ages, shared their experiences with the panel.
"The care is superb and I want to keep it," said retired master sergeant John C. Vanhoosear.
Vanhoosear, who is a Vista resident, has been using the Naval Hospital since 1977, when he was on active duty.
The hospital is in the process of hiring new staff," said Lt. Cmdr. James C. Gay, Executive Director of Primary Care.
Hiring new civilian contract staff at the hospital will allow doctors to stay on staff when Camp Pendleton units deploy to Iraq next year.
"This time around we will be more prepared," Nichols said. "We are more prepared to change, to modify and update the system."
Nichols said three steps are set up now to aid with the I Marine Expeditionary Force gearing up for deployment.
"Reserve support, special Global War on Terrorism funds to hire additional staff and just changing the way we do business," said Nichols.
Vanhoosear, like several others throughout the meeting, were told to personally call Nichols if they didn't see results in their individual cases.
Cmdr. Edward C. Norton, director of Primary Care Essential Services, spoke on behalf of the hospital's pharmacy.
"Wait times are always a problem," said Norton, who acknowledged that wait times have gone down since the last meeting in January.
He explained how the wait times have been reduced now that the pharmacy staff has met full force.
The average wait time for active duty to receive a prescription is 12 minutes. Prime enrollees tend to wait about 19 minutes and for non-prime enrollees the average time is 50 minutes.
"The pharmacy fills about 600,000 prescriptions per year," Norton said.
One of the steps created by the hospital to expedite visits to the pharmacy is optimized refill pickup sites. Prescriptions can be refilled at the Pacific Plaza and at the 13, 21, 31, and 52 area branch clinics.
The third topic of the evening was the Exceptional Family Member Program. EFMP is a program that assists active duty family members who require special medical and/or educational services based on physical, intellectual or mental diagnosis.
Mental Health Services at the hospital held the slot for the fourth topic discussed.
"Mental Health Services has seen a huge increase in demand since 2002," said Lt. Cmdr. Ronald B. Burbank, Director of Mental Health.
Post traumatic stress disorder is the leading cause for the increased use of the hospital's Mental Health Services, Burbank said.
The first one will be held is scheduled for Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Naval Hospital.
"These meetings are an excellent way for anyone to learn, listen, ask and get answers," said Anne M. Sloat, a spouse, after Tuesday's meeting.
Brig. Gen. Michael R. Lenhert will be hosting three town hall meetings.
- Sept. 29, 6-8 p.m., San Onofre Community Center
- Oct. 13, 6-8 p.m., San Luis Rey Officers Club
- Oct. 19, 6-8 p.m., South Mesa Staff NCO Club