Are you ready for TRICARE Open Season and the upcoming changes to TRICARE in 2025? Mark your calendar for a TRICARE webinar, “Get Ready for TRICARE Open Season and 2025 Region Changes,” on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2–3 p.m. ET on Microsoft Teams Live.

TRICARE Open Season begins Monday, Nov. 11—that’s just a few weeks away. If you’re a TRICARE beneficiary, this is the time when you can enroll in a health plan or change health plans for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2025. You can make these changes through Tuesday, Dec. 10.

It’s almost time for TRICARE Open Season, which begins Nov. 11. That means you should check your information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System as soon as possible. There will be a global TRICARE enrollment freeze from Oct. 25-27, and limitations to the Beneficiary Web Enrollment self-service portal between Oct. 28 and Dec. 31.

The fall and winter months bring an increased risk of respiratory illnesses, including flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus. Getting your flu shot is an easy way to help ward off illness. The vaccine lowers your chance of getting sick, going to the hospital, or even dying from the flu.

What do you do? I am the floor supervisor for the Inpatient Pharmacy and alternate vault technician. As a tech, my main functions include (but are not limited to) delivering medications to every ward and clinic in the hospital, compounding sterile IV medications for every ward in the hospital, filling every automated medication dispensing system in the hospital, and filling discharge medication after hours. We average about 1,000 unit dose medications and about 1,000 IV medications filled per day and manage 5,536 medications loaded in automated medication dispensing systems throughout the hospital. How long have you worked at TAMC? I moved from Fort Huachuca, Arizona to TAMC in March 2022. What do you enjoy about your job? I enjoy learning about medications, including their mechanism of action (how they work), what they are used for, adverse reactions, drug interactions, etc. Above all that, though, I greatly enjoy putting a smile on people’s faces and helping them out. Why did you become a pharmacy technician? I’ve always wanted to be in the Army as a medic. My older brother joined the Army a combat medic, and naturally, as the younger brother, I tried to one-up him by being a pharmacy tech. During the rehearsal for my high school graduation, I received a call from my recruiter about a pharmacy tech opening and sign my Army contract that same day.

What do you do? I am a pharmacist in the Outpatient Pharmacy. How long have you worked at TAMC? It will be 20 years at the end of November. What do you enjoy about your job? I like helping patients manage their medications. Tips like how and when to take their medications and what to expect in terms of side effects are useful information to help patients avoid getting overwhelmed. I also enjoy working with my co-workers. The staff in the outpatient pharmacy is made up of different personalities that make the day go by quickly. Why did you become a pharmacist? I was inspired to become a pharmacist when I saw how my parents and their friends struggled to understand what their medications were for and how to take them. Before starting pharmacy school, I volunteered at a community pharmacy and enjoyed interacting with the patients.

What do you do? Compound chemotherapy medications for patients who are getting treatment. Process medication and supply orders to maintain inventory for the Oncology Pharmacy. Train fellow pharmacy technicians, students, and residents on compounding chemotherapy medications. How long have you worked at TAMC? 18 years. What do you enjoy about your job? I get to work with a fantastic Oncology team that consists of pharmacists, nurses, and doctors. We work together to provide the best care for patients who receive treatment in our clinic. How did you become a pharmacy technician? I worked part-time at Longs Drugs while I attended college. I started out as a cashier, then an ancillary clerk in the pharmacy, and finally received training and certification to become a pharmacy technician.

What do you do? I work as a pharmacy technician in the pharmacy's supply section, which is the inpatient pharmacy. This position entails ordering medication stock for the outpatient section of the pharmacy. I also assist in filling stock for the automated medication dispensing systems located within various wards in the hospital, as well as making crash cart sets to be placed within the carts located throughout the hospital. How long have you worked at TAMC? I’ve been at TAMC since September of 2023. What do you enjoy about your job? I enjoy everything about my job and the role I fill. Pharmacy is vital to a hospital, the world, and our everyday lives. I love seeing all the medications we order and dispense throughout the hospital, how they move, and what they do. I love the complexity of the drugs we dispense, and their ability to do so many different things for so many people. I love knowing that the drugs we dispense will treat people and help them make a positive difference in their lives. Why did you become a pharmacy technician? I knew that when I joined the Army, I would want to be a Pharmacy Technician. I went to Fort Sam Houston to learn the various aspects of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Certified Pharmacy Technician.