The Department of Medicine (DOM) provides comprehensive, high quality non-surgical healthcare to primarily adult patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. We are staffed with board-certified physicians whose medical practices include a wide range of clinical, academic, research and military training activities. This robust and balanced combination assures our beneficiaries the most comprehensive, up-to-date care possible. Our Internal Medicine Residency Program, Asthma Resource Center, Interventional Cardiology and Intensive Care services are regionally and nationally recognized.

Our imperatives for success are:

• Improve access to specialty care
• Support DDEAMC readiness
• Enhance continuum of care through partnership with Primary Care
• Increase Directorate efficiency and effective use of resources
• Restructure health care delivery model to facilitate access to specialty care

Department of Medicine Administrative Phone Number: (706) 787-6462

The Dept. of Medicine provides clinical consultation for any physician, military or civilian, for any eligible beneficiary needing care in the following areas:

TYPES OF SERVICES OFFERED

Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center (DDEAMC) provides secondary and tertiary care services to DoD beneficiaries within the Southeast TRICARE Region (South Carolina, Georgia and Florida). Inpatient tertiary referrals are funneled to DDEAMC from throughout the Southeast region, Puerto Rico and Panama. All Department of Medicine services provide medical services for adults and geriatric patients in their respective specialty areas. Specifics are detailed in the individual Scope of Practice and Credentialing Guidelines for each specialty.

Patients are cared for in both inpatient and outpatient settings. DDEAMC inpatients who are the responsibility of the DOM are admitted to the medical inpatient units. Consultations are performed for adult inpatients on the DDEAMC units by all DOM services. Some patients receive primary or "principal" care in subspecialty clinics when a disorder of one system dominates their health care needs. Outpatient subspecialty consultation and care is provided by all DOM services at DDEAMC.

Patient needs are identified through periodic patient satisfaction surveys performed by the DDEAMC Patient Advocate's Office or by individual services. Needs are also determined through consultations from other providers within the hospital and region. For patients who do not wish to use (or are unable to be accommodated within) the military health care system, the TRICARE (CHAMPUS) program provides a means for obtaining necessary services. If there are services that are necessary but cannot be provided at DDEAMC, patients are referred to other military facilities or civilian hospitals. Such outside care is paid for by TRICARE (CHAMPUS) or MEDICARE for eligible individuals. Special funds are available (Supplemental Care) for active duty military personnel needing such outside care.

DOM staffing is dictated by U.S. Army Medical Command manning standards and the annual Medical and Nurse Corps Distribution Conference. Physician staffing is determined by patient care, graduate medical education and military readiness requirements. There are 32 physician staff and 18 residents in training.

The Internal Medicine Residency Program provides three years of excellent training which prepares qualified internists to serve as primary care providers and consultants in general internal medicine. The training program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education, and at completion, graduates are fully prepared to sit for the American Board of Internal Medicine certifying examination.

Residents may elect a wide range of clinical and research activities, with rotations offered in every medicine subspecialty. In each of the past three years, DDEAMC residents have won research competitions at local, regional and national levels. The teaching staff maintains a keen interest in clinical research with a large number of staff serving as investigators for funded research projects. All graduates are certified in the full range of procedures required of a general internist and, upon graduation, assume challenging and rewarding positions as staff internists. Our graduate are very competitive for fellowship training, as evidenced by a 90% selection rate over the past three years.