Air Force Medical Service

The ADAPT Program promotes readiness, health, and wellness through the prevention and treatment of substance misuse and abuse. ADAPT is designed to identify risk factors and help individuals avoid hazardous substance use before it causes damage to their health and career.

For more information click here

Allergy clinics provide evaluation and diagnostic assessment of allergy-related diseases for active duty and beneficiaries. In most cases, patients who desire evaluation by the allergy clinic must have a referral placed by their primary care manager.

The capability for outpatient procedures, called Ambulatory Surgery, continues to grow. Your doctor, the type of surgery, and the capability of your MTF will determine whether same-day surgery is an option for you. Once your surgery and recovery are completed, your doctor and recovery team will determine if it is safe to discharge you to go home.

Anesthesiology includes administration of anesthesia and of all levels of sedation for pediatric and adult patients. This includes pre-, intra-, and postoperative evaluation, treatment and the support of life functions and vital organs under the stress of anesthetic, surgical, and other procedures. Anesthesiologists provide acute and chronic pain management and consultation.

Audiology clinics provide assessment of hearing, balance, and related disorders through comprehensive behavioral and electrophysiologic evaluation methods. Care provided includes aural rehabilitation; tinnitus management and fitting of hearing aids; and assistive listening and implantable devices. Audiologists also promote prevention of noise-induced hearing loss through education and hearing protection device fitting and serve as consultants to, or managers of, base level Hearing Conservation Programs.

Bioenvironmental Engineering (BE) optimizes combat capabilities by preventing casualties and enhancing performance in home station and deployed environments through full spectrum threat and hazard identification and health risk assessments. The scope of work includes anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling exposure(s) to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats in addition to other physical hazards such as directed energy, thermal stress, and hazardous noise, as well as human factors such as ergonomic stressors. BE roles include, but is not limited to, nuclear enterprise support and incident response, installation and mission support, bare base bed-down and recurrent site assessment, anti-terrorism and force protection, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, partnership building, and consequence management. BE provides TEH surveillance by employing routine and emergency exposure sampling, analysis, and monitoring; qualitative and quantitative health risk assessments; health risk communication; and situational awareness, data analytics, and exposure informatics.

Cardiology deals with disorders of the cardiovascular system, particularly the heart. The field includes the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and congenital heart defects. Subspecialists within Cardiology (Interventional Cardiology and Electrophysiology) can perform invasive procedures to treat these conditions when needed.

Forthcoming

Chiropractic care gives special attention to the physiological and biomechanical aspects of the body, including structural, spinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular, nutritional, emotional, and environmental relationships. Care provided includes the adjustment and manipulation of the articulations and adjacent tissues, particularly of the spinal column. Chiropractic is a drug-free, non-surgical science and, as such, does not include pharmaceuticals or surgery.

Anticoagulation Clinics, often called Coumadin Clinics, provide careful dosing and follow-up for the administration of anticoagulants, which reduce the blood’s potential to clot. The clinic evaluates and monitors patients taking Coumadin/Warfarin. A referral is required for monitoring by most clinics.

Dental clinics provide general and preventive dental services; additionally some dental clinics provide special services (e.g., endodontic, periodontal, prosthodontics, and oral surgery). Care is provided to active duty personnel; in special situations care may be provided to other eligible beneficiaries. Services may be limited at some locations.

Dermatology clinics are responsible for treating diseases of the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. Dermatologists diagnose and care for a wide variety of diseases and ailments, ranging from acne to skin cancer.

The Diabetes Center of Excellence is an Air Force Medical Service specialty clinic dedicated to providing standardized diabetes care to beneficiaries. In most cases. the DCOE manages patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as those patients on insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, those using U-500 insulin, and other complex medical treatments.

The Emergency Department’s mission is to provide care to critically ill or injured patients. Treatment is provided for medical, maternity, or psychiatric conditions that could threaten life, limb, or sight without immediate medical attention. Other emergencies include severe, painful symptoms requiring immediate attention, or when a person may be an immediate risk to self or others. All patients are triaged at presentation and receive care according to the medical priority of need. Patients seeking care for sore throats, earaches, chronic pain, flu symptoms, cold symptoms, and minor ailments and injuries should first seek care through their primary care clinic.

Endocrinology is a subspecialty of internal medicine that focuses on the evaluation and treatment of diseases affecting the endocrine system. The endocrine system consists of multiple glands that produce different types of hormones that are vital for normal metabolic function. Diseases that are commonly seen in the Endocrinology clinic include diabetes (see more details under DCOE), thyroid disorders, adrenal disorders, as well as bone diseases that can lead to fractures.

Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, often known as ENT (ear, nose, and throat), is a diverse specialty that encompasses the medical and surgical treatment of many diseases affecting the head and neck. The ENT clinic treats a variety of issues, including sinuses, tonsils, ears and hearing, facial aesthetics, facial nerve, salivary glands, nose, upper aerodigestive tract, thyroid, parathyroid, voice and speech problems, tracheotomies, and many other issues.

The goal of the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) is to create resilient military personnel and families through the prevention and treatment of child and partner abuse. Professional social workers, nurses, and program assistants offer a range of services. In addition to prevention components such as skills related to good parenting, communication, conflict resolution, relationship enhancement, or problem solving, the FAP conducts assessments when domestic abuse or child maltreatment is suspected and provides interventions as appropriate. FAP also participates in deployment and reintegration briefings.

FHC provides first-contact, continuous, comprehensive, and coordinated care to populations undifferentiated by age, sex, disease, or organ system. The FHC provides comprehensive range of services within the context of a continuing relationship. When patients require care beyond the scope of the FHC, continuous responsibility for patients is maintained by coordinating the care provided by other health care professionals. The FHC provides comprehensive care for acute and chronic conditions, provides wellness care and disease prevention, performs a variety of procedures, and manages care through collaboration with other specialties.

The Flight and Operational Medicine Clinic (FOMC) is dedicated to providing exceptional medical care to the Air Force Flying Population and Special Duty Personnel. Services include acute and routine care, along with wellness and flight physical examinations.

Gastroenterology includes the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and provision of consultation to patients with diseases, injuries, and disorders of the digestive organs, including the stomach, intestines, liver, and gallbladder and related structures (e.g., the esophagus and pancreas). This can include the use of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using endoscopes to visualize internal organs.

Forthcoming

The Air Force Medical Genetics Center at Keesler AFB provides counseling and management guidelines for individuals with a diagnosis or family history of a genetic disorder. The clinic also sees undiagnosed patients of any age and provides consultation to other physicians and assists in the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases. Common reasons for referral include familial cancer syndromes, abnormal genetic lab test results, and children with multiple medical and developmental problems. The Center also houses the Department of Defense genetic testing reference lab, providing laboratory services to all DoD medical treatment facilities.

Hyperbaric medicine uses 100% oxygen delivered at pressures higher than atmospheric to treat FDA-approved conditions (air/gas embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning, gas gangrene, crush injury, decompression sickness, arterial insufficiencies, severe anemia, intracranial abscess, necrotizing soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, delayed radiation injury, compromised skin grafts/flaps, thermal burn injury, and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss). In addition, we offer advanced wound care with or without hyperbaric oxygen. We offer worldwide consultation on DoD beneficiaries for SCUBA diving and altitude related disorders. Finally, we support the USAF parajumpers by providing a hyperbaric “dive” to a simulated 60 feet of seawater test of pressure prior to them going to diving training.

The AFMS immunization clinics are dedicated to ensuring that vaccines are available and administered to each beneficiary as recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Immunization staff members are highly trained and can provide assistance/education to beneficiaries regarding their vaccine concerns before and after vaccination. Services include:

• Routine Adult & Pediatric Immunizations
• Active Duty/Deployment Immunizations
• Travel Immunizations

For more information click here

Infectious disease medicine is a subspecialty of internal medicine that focuses on diagnosing and managing infections. Although most common infections are treated by general internists and other specialty physicians, internists practicing infectious disease medicine are frequently called upon to help diagnose unknown infections and assist in managing difficult, unusual, or complicated infections. Infectious Disease clinics also provide comprehensive pre-travel counseling.

Dealing with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of adult diseases, Internal Medicine physicians provide comprehensive care important for each patient’s specific health needs. Often faced with a wide range of conditions affecting the internal organs, these specialists treat health needs that span the health spectrum.

The lab provides a range of services that may include surgical pathology, cyto-pathology, hematology, coagulation, chemistry, urinalysis, immunology, microbiology, and transfusion services. Services not offered at a specific MTF will be referred to an accredited referral lab for testing.

When Airmen or their spouses are expecting, the concern of the Air Force Medical Service is for the optimal health and safety of both mother and child. If you’re pregnant, your care before, during, and after childbirth (and your associated costs) are determined by your beneficiary status, how close you live to a military hospital or clinic that provides obstetric and gynecological services, and your choice of TRICARE program and provider.

Learn More About Maternal Care

The military’s medical evaluation process is complex, and understanding it is sometimes overwhelming for service members and their families. The process usually begins when the service member’s physician recommends him or her for a medical board. A final determination can be made in as little as 45 days – or much longer – depending on the complexity of the case. The Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer is the service member’s main liaison during the process, providing valuable guidance and serving as a patient advocate.

Mental Health Clinics offer a variety of services including crisis intervention, individual counseling, group therapy, psycho-educational skill training, outreach and prevention, and consultation to commanders. Help is available for a variety of concerns including anxiety, depression, grief, stress from deployment (any phase of the deployment cycle), and care for more severe mental illness diagnoses.

For more information click here

Neurologists are concerned with the anatomy, functions, and disorders of nerves and the nervous system. The clinic provides services to assess and test for neurological diseases or injuries to the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves and muscles.

Forthcoming

The Nutritional Medicine Clinic provides a variety of services to assist active duty members, their dependents and beneficiaries in optimizing health through nutrition. Programs usually include both group education and individualized counseling for disease management and prevention.

Obstetrician/Gynecologists (OB/GYNs) are specialists who focus on women’s health. From general medical care to monitoring and supervising childbirth, the OB/GYN clinic staff is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the reproductive system.

Forthcoming

Occupational Therapists work with patients after a disabling injury or illness to build or restore their abilities through the relearning and repetition of everyday tasks. Whether working with mental, physical, developmental, or emotional conditions, these experts assist their patients in developing and maintaining daily living and work skills.

The Ophthalmology Clinic provides a full spectrum of care, including routine eye exams and diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders and diseases. Ophthalmologists and clinic staff provide surgical procedures, prescribe and administer ocular and systemic medications, and perform laser refractive surgery.

The Optometry Clinic provides examination, diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases of the eyes and associated structures. The clinic prescribes treatment and ophthalmic devices such as glasses and contact lenses, performs clinical procedures to correct vision, and is involved in the vision conservation and eye protection programs to meet Air Force standards.

The Orthopedic Clinic is responsible for the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Using both conservative and surgical means, Orthopedic specialists treat a range of conditions, from sports injuries to degenerative conditions, enabling patients to resume daily activities as quickly as possible.

Specialists at this clinic provide pain management to treat pain stemming from a variety of causes, including neuropathic pain or headache, or the result of injury, a surgical procedure, cancer, or another illness.

The Pediatric clinical team provides primary healthcare to children up to the age of 18 years. Services include assessments, diagnosis, treatment, referrals, education, and prevention.

The Pharmacy team prepares and dispenses medications, and instructs patients on the proper use of those medications.

The Physical Therapy clinic provides direct and referral based care for the evaluation, management, and prevention of a wide range of orthopedic, sport, and chronic injuries and illnesses. With the use of an expanded scope of practice and a diverse skillset, which includes manual therapy, exercise, and dry needling, the Physical Therapy team helps beneficiaries from all Services return to maximum function to optimize health and meet readiness requirements.

Forthcoming

The Public Health team is responsible for preventing and controlling the spread of disease. They direct and conduct food safety and public facility sanitation programs and constantly monitor conditions and potential health threats. The team follows disease trends to identify public health issues in order to maintain the health of Airmen and their families. Public Health also oversees the deployment medical clearance process to confirm members are healthy to deploy and are aware of medical threats in theater. Public Health also ensures members have received available countermeasures to prevent becoming ill from endemic diseases. Finally, Public Health works with industrial shop supervisors to ensure workers receive appropriate training, protective equipment and medical monitoring to protect them from potential physical and chemical hazards.

Radiology clinicians make and interpret diagnostic images, including x-rays, ultrasounds, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs). These images are valuable to the healthcare team when determining treatment plans and surgical strategies.

Refractive Surgery involves elective surgical procedures designed to improve vision and reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses. The Air Force Refractive Surgery is a readiness program available to active duty personnel, which utilizes state-of-the-art treatments to give a visual operational advantage to the warfighter in the deployed environment.

Rheumatology is a subspecialty of internal medicine or pediatrics made available to active duty members, their beneficiaries, and retirees, which identifies diseases of the joints, muscles, bones, and tendons. More than 100 different illnesses are diagnosed and treated by specialists in this field, some of which affect multiple organs, but many with a wide variety of symptoms. A rheumatologist diagnoses and treats both chronic and acute conditions, including arthritis, systemic rheumatic diseases, back pain, gout, lupus, bursitis, muscle strains, collagen and other soft-tissue diseases, and some athletic injuries. Since it can be a challenge to diagnose rheumatologic illnesses, the rheumatologist’s strength is the ability to find subtle clues and make the diagnosis. Rheumatology services are available at larger military treatment facilities. Patients who desire evaluation by a rheumatologist need a referral placed by their primary care manager.

Speech Pathology clinics provide evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and consultation for patients of all ages with developmental or acquired speech, language, cognitive-communication disorders, swallowing, fluency, and/or voice disorders. Speech pathologists often work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with physicians, educators, audiologists, and other specialists in the course of treatment for these conditions.

Training health has two primary focuses. First, it provides all the primary care and clinical preventive services (e.g., immunizations, etc.) required to prepare and maintain trainees through the training pipelines. The second focus is the surveillance of injury, illness, and entry-level separations activity with the purpose of identifying outliers or excesses. Once these have been identified, preventive strategies, which are aligned with training command mission, are then formulated and implemented in order to improve graduation rates and minimize lost training days.

The Travel Medicine Clinic provides pre-travel counseling in order to promote healthy and safe international traveling. Health providers recommend age-appropriate, country-specific recommendations for immunizations, traveler’s diarrhea medications, anti-malaria medications, vector-borne precautions, and food and water preventive measures for all TRICARE beneficiaries.

Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs) provide services to walk-in patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The UCC is an option for common acute minor medical problems when the patient cannot obtain an appointment with a primary care provider or a clinic is closed. The UCC treats minor illnesses and injuries, including flu, fever, earaches, nausea, rashes, animal and insect bites, bone fractures, and minor cuts that require stitches.

Specializing in diseases of the urinary tract as well as the male reproductive system, urologists provide essential care to both men and women. The Urology clinicians examine, diagnose, and treat injuries and disorders of the genitourinary tract.

Forthcoming

The veterinary clinic offers a range of services, including exams, routine annual vaccinations, heart-worm testing for dogs, and feline leukemia testing for cats. Some clinics provide dental and surgical services, and kenneling facilities.

Women’s Healthcare providers deliver comprehensive care to Airmen and their families. These healthcare providers take care of female patients from adolescence through childbearing and advanced years, including diagnosis and treatment of obstetric and gynecological conditions and other issues specific to women.