How to Access Healthcare at Malmstrom Air Force Base

  • Published
  • By Lt. Stephen Meyers
  • 341st Medical Operations Squadron
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  One of the key benefits to military dependents, and a major aspect to maintaining a ready force, is the availability of adequate and timely medical treatment. It is the mission of Air Force Global Strike Command's 341st Medical Group to ensure our active-duty force is medically capable to perform their mission and support the rest of Team Malmstrom's medical wellness. A unique mission for the Malmstrom Clinic is the Personnel Reliability Program (PRP), an intensive program designed to ensure the highest of standards are maintained with regard to those working with our nation's nuclear weapons.

The first thing newly arriving active duty and family members should do is visit the TRICARE Service Center within the clinic during normal duty hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is where the sponsor and family members are enrolled into TRICARE Prime, assigned a primary care provider and entered into the clinic's computer systems. The medical group is located in building 2040, at the corner of North Perimeter Road and 73rd Street North.

Currently, the services offered at the medical group include Family Practice, Flight/Missile Medicine, Health and Wellness Center (HAWC), Immunizations, Laboratory, Optometry, Pediatrics, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Radiology, and Women's Health. We also have Dental, Mental Health and PRP Clinics available only for active duty.

For all appointments, contact the central appointment line by calling 731-4MED. Give us a call during normal duty hours and you will be offered the next available appointment to see your Primary Care Provider. In the event that medical care is required after hours, call 731-4MED and you will be referred to one of the urgent care centers in Great Falls. Before spending an evening in a waiting room at one of these facilities awaiting routine care, we suggest you try some self-remedies outlined in Take Care of Yourself, The Complete Illustrated Guide to Medical Care, available for children and adults free of charge at the clinic. In the event of injuries that may pose a threat to life, limb or eye sight, go directly to the emergency room at Benefis Hospital or dial 9-1-1. Emergency services are not offered at the Malmstrom Air Force Base Clinic.

In addition to the services provided in the clinic, the Health and Wellness Center provides a wide array of preventive medicine and life-style classes including tobacco cessation, healthy cooking and medical nutrition classes, and cholesterol and diabetes management classes. The staff can also design customized workouts in the fitness planning program or you can utilize the equipment at your own speed and on your own schedule. There is also a child observation room that allows mom or dad to work-out and watch their kids play at the same time.

Although, we cannot offer all medical services at Malmstrom Clinic, through a partnership with TriWest we have a very robust local network to accommodate nearly any situation that may arise. If specialty care is required that we cannot provide in-house, a referral will be provided by your Primary Care Provider to see a specialist. The referral is then sent to TriWest for review and authorization, and can be checked online at www.triwest.com in addition to notification through the mail. You must have the authorization in-hand prior to going to the appointment or you may be liable for deductibles and co-pays.

Some medical specialties, such as dermatology and pediatric psychiatry simply aren't available in the immediate vicinity. On these occasions, you will be referred to the nearest provider. If you need to travel 100 miles or more to see the nearest specialty provider, you may be eligible for the TRICARE travel benefit.

For question or concerns, contact the Benefits Coordinator, Renae Hutchins at 731-4117 or 2nd Lt. Stephen Meyers at 731-3805.