Do you currently live in the West Region? Or, do you live in one of the six states that moved to the West Region on Jan. 1? If you pay for your TRICARE coverage using a bank electronic funds transfer, credit card, or debit card, you must now securely give your recurring payment information to the West Region contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

Do you know what to do when you or a family member feel sick, but it’s outside of business hours or it’s the weekend? TRICARE has a service called the Military Health System Nurse Advice Line that can help when you need healthcare guidance.

With the end of the year approaching, it’s a good time to consider your family’s healthcare needs for the coming year. As you think about things like scheduling preventive care visits and knowing your 2025 TRICARE costs, you should also note some changes coming to TRICARE in 2025.

Respiratory syncytial virus is a common but potentially dangerous respiratory illness. Immunizations are available to protect TRICARE beneficiaries who are considered high risk from RSV infection. These immunizations help protect older adults and newborns, who face higher risks from respiratory illness.

Patient care at Tripler Army Medical Center remains unaffected following the detection of E. coli in a well on the TAMC installation.

Tripler Army Medical Center was designated as a Pathway to Excellence hospital this year by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This designation recognizes TAMC’s commitment to creating a positive practice environment that empowers and engages staff.

U.S. Army Col. Erik Johnson, Tripler Army Medical Center chief medical officer, left, and 1st Sgt. Christian Flores, right, present a certificate commemorating 30 years of service of federal service to Mr. Raul Beltran, a TAMC staff member, during an award ceremony on Oct. 24, 2024. (Defense Health Agency photo by Crizalmer Caraang Jr.)

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.