Despite severe weather, Evans ACH stands ready

Courtesy Photo | Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado, remains open 24/7. Beneficiaries can call the Evans ACH hotline at [phone] to receive hospital status updates (in-patient, out-patient and emergency services), based on current conditions on and around Fort Carson. The hotline assists beneficiaries in confirming the hospital is open and to ensure all appointments will be honored during severe weather.  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

11.21.2018

Story by Jeanine Mezei 

Evans Army Community Hospital

Waking up to heavy snowfall and icy roads can put a damper on your day, especially when you have a medical appointment you don’t want to miss.

Fortunately, Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado, remains open 24/7.

“We want to ensure that access to care for Soldiers, Family members and beneficiaries remains the priority of this command during severe weather events,” said Craig Williams, Evans ACH emergency manager.

For these severe weather days, Fort Carson will issue weather advisories – two-hour delay, mission essential reporting only or phased, early release. Despite these advisories, the emergency room and inpatient services are always open.

Beneficiaries can call the Evans ACH hotline at [phone] to receive hospital status updates (in-patient, out-patient and emergency services), based on current conditions on and around Fort Carson. The hotline assists beneficiaries in confirming the hospital is open and to ensure all appointments will be honored during severe weather.

During severe weather, each outpatient clinic opens at their regularly scheduled time and all patient appointments are seen, according to Williams.

During announced mission essential only reporting periods, patients with appointments are contacted by hospital administrators and afforded the opportunity to reschedule to a later date or confirm their scheduled appointment. Community Based Medical Homes outside of Fort Carson remain unaffected by severe weather events and follow the same process for patient contact and appointment confirmation.

If a beneficiary has an appointment at an outlying clinic on Fort Carson during an announced mission essential only reporting period, those patients will be contacted the morning of their appointment and given the opportunity to reschedule or confirm their scheduled appointment. If a beneficiary confirms the appointment, the patient will be redirected to either Iron Horse or Warrior Family Medicine Clinic within Evans ACH to maintain the appointment with their scheduled provider.

When Fort Carson issues an early release announcement, hospital staff will see patients currently waiting and attempt to contact those who have appointments later in the day to reschedule. If those patients want to keep their appointment, they will be seen at their scheduled time or sooner if possible.

In the event a beneficiary does not feel safe traveling during severe weather, they should call the appointment line at (719) 526-CARE (2273) to cancel and reschedule their visit. Beneficiaries who booked their appointment or their dependent minors’ appointment through TRICARE Online can cancel by visiting www.tricareonline.com. Patients who are unable to make their appointments will not be considered a no-show.

“For those wanting to reschedule due to weather or keep their appointment, we will make every effort to accommodate them,” said Williams. “The safety of our beneficiaries is always a priority at Evans ACH.”

For updates during severe weather, check out the Evans ACH Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EvansArmyCommunityHospital.

• Date Taken: 11.21.2018
• Date Posted: 11.21.2018 11:37
• Story ID: 300884
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US