The Defense Health Agency's Senior Enlisted Leader, Chief Master Sgt. Tanya Y. Johnson, provides a message about TRICARE Open Season 2024.

TRICARE has recently expanded its hearing aid coverage to include eligible children of retired service members. This new coverage results from a new statute. It aims to improve access to life-changing medical technology and help eligible children of retired service members get the hearing aids they need.

TRICARE Open Season is Nov. 11–Dec. 10, 2024. Open season applies to you if you're enrolled in or eligible for TRICARE Prime, the US Family Health Plan, or TRICARE Select.

Have you considered changing your family’s TRICARE health plan for 2025? Now is your opportunity: TRICARE Open Season starts Nov. 11 and runs through Dec. 10.

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.

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.