Patient Support Services

AMERICAN RED CROSS
Volunteers are important members of the RACH Team. They serve in various areas of both the hospital and dental clinics. Individuals interested in volunteering should contact the American Red Cross at (580) 558 2132/3052 or visit their office on the third floor of the hospital. Some prerequisites for volunteering include a three hour orientation to the Red Cross and hospital, a health screening and completion of privacy training. In addition to an adult volunteer program, VolunTEENs (ages 14 to 18 years old) provide service at RACH and other areas on post during the summer months.

BENEFICIARY COUNSELING
ASSISTANCE COORDINATORS (BCAC) AND DEBT COLLECTION SERVICES
BCAC's support beneficiaries by providing information and assisting with enrollment, claims processing, eligibility queries and travel entitlement. They provide TRICARE briefings and serve as the point of contact for debt collection cases. Staff is located at the south entrance next to the TRICARE Service Center. Call (580) 558 2483/3161 for assistance.

BIRTH CERTIFICATES
To obtain an official copy of a birth certificate, you must submit a completed Birth Certificate Request form. Forms are available at the Patient Administration Division. The Birth Certificate Request form, along with a $15 check or money order and a copy of the requestors ID, may be sent to:

Division of Vital Records
1000 NE 10th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73117
(405) 271-4040
For any additional information, please call the Admissions office at (580) 558 2750.

DINING FACILITY
The Dining Facility is located at the south entrance of the hospital on the first floor.

MARKETING/EDUCATION
The Marketing/Education Office is actively involved with and supports various groups and programs in the area. We strive to keep Fort Sill and the general public educated and updated on the TRICARE Benefit and RACH services. Information briefs are held quarterly at the hospital and are open to the public. Dates and times of briefs are posted in The Cannoneer newspaper and on the RACH Internet. For your convenience, any unit, group or organization is welcome to schedule a brief during duty hours or after hours. For questions, comments, or to schedule a brief, please call (580) 558 2319/2657.

MEDICAL CORRESPONDENCE/
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
This office assists patients who need copies of their medical information. Patients must present an ID card and complete the release form. If the requestor is someone other than the patient, a medical power of attorney will be needed. This office is located with Inpatient/Outpatient Records in the basement on the north side of the hospital. Contact staff at (580) 558 2103 or fax to (580) 558 2756.

INTEGRATED DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM (IDES/MEDICAL BOARDS)
IDES helps the Department of Defense (DoD) determine whether wounded, ill or injured Service members are able to continue to serve. IDES quickly returns to duty those who are. For those who are not, the IDES process determines the disability ratings they will receive from DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). DoD and VA joined together to create IDES to integrate processes DoD and VA formerly executed separately. This new, streamlined system mproves America's delivery of disability services and benefits to Service members, Veterans and their families.

Your primary care doctor recommends possible medical board evaluation. The Soldier is referred to and evaluated by the Medical Board Physician who initiates a permanent profile as necessary. After the profile is issued, the Soldier reports to Patient Affairs, Medical Board Section where a briefing and appointments for Phase I and Phase II of a physical exam are scheduled. A medical board packet is prepared by the Soldier's command and submitted to the Medical Board Section within seven days. The Soldier's packet is forwarded to the Physical Evaluation Board for a final decision. Once results are received, the Soldier is counseled on his/her elective options. Medical Boards Office is located on the third floor of the hospital. For assistance, call (580) 558-3149/3468/2748/2322.

NUTRITION DIVISION CLASSES
Weight Management, Heart Health and Cholesterol classes for Active Duty Service Members, Family Members and Retirees are available. Diabetes Nutrition Education classes are held the first and third Tuesday of each month. Patients need to bring both a glucometer and a list of current medications to the class. Bariatric Support Group classes are provided upon referral from the General Surgery Clinic. Dates and times of classes may vary. Please contact the Nutrition Care Division at (580) 558-2152/2825 to discover how to improve your health through nutrition.

OPERATION WHEELS
"Operation Wheels" is a unique service of the Armed Services YMCA and offers FREE TRANSPORTATION for necessary services such as medical appointments, dental appointments, legal appointments and commissary trips. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance. Junior enlisted Soldiers and their Family Members have priority. Call (580) 355 5520 for more information.

OUTPATIENT RECORDS
Medical records are no longer hand-carried by Soldiers when making a permanent change in duty station. Records will be mailed to the new Military Treatment Facility once the Soldier brings a copy of his/her orders to Outpatient Records. Only Soldiers on recruitment orders, going to a remote location or overseas are authorize to hand-carry records. If dependents are 18 years or older, access to their medical information must be authorized through a signed notification, but hand-carried by them only. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (580) 558-2105/ 2101 for assistance.

PATIENT ADVOCATE OFFICE
Patient Advocates assist patients and Family Members resolve their health care concerns, by serving as a liaison between the patient and staff. They also welcome compliments about any quality service you received. This helps us recognize staff who are performing well and to find ways to improve our services as needed throughout the facility. You can contact the Patient Advocates at (580) 558-2389/2390 or e-mail at rachpatrep@amedd.army.mil.

PATIENT AFFAIRS BRANCH
Patient Affairs is responsible for processing all medical boards for Soldiers whose military career has been interrupted by an injury or illness. They arrange fit-for-duty physicals for all Guard Soldiers as well as line of duty preparation for Soldiers who acquire an injury while on Active Duty. Soldiers placed on Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) are scheduled for appointments and processed through Patient Affairs. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For assistance, call (580) 558 3149/2747/2746. Patient Affairs Branch and the Chief of Patient Administration Division are located on the third floor of the hospital.

WOMEN, INFANT AND
CHILDREN (WIC) PROGRAM
The WIC Program is a nutrition and education program based on income level for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children.

The office is located inside the Comanche County Health Department, 1010 SW Sheridan Road, Lawton and is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For assistance, call (580) 585 6625 or (800) 788 3628.  read more...

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