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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently asked questions about our facility.

Tripler Army Medical Center FAQs

Information on Hospital Discharge and Clearance
Normally, you will be discharged during duty hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. weekdays) and process through the Hospital Treasurer’s Office located on the third floor, H-Wing, room 507. You or your sponsor must settle your account at the time of discharge or arrange for payment with the Treasurer's Office. Payment can be made by cash, check, money order, travelers check, payroll deduction, charge card, MasterCard or VISA. Patients discharged after normal duty hours weekends, Sundays or holidays are to process their discharge in the Admissions and Dispositions Office, first floor, oceanside entrance, Room No. 1A017, telephone 433-6112.

In addition, active duty patients, please process through your appropriate service liaison located in room 18 101 on the first floor of B-Wing, during duty hours, 7:30a.m. - 4:00 p.m. weekdays. For discharge after duty hours, contact your unit's Personnel and Administrative section.
Who do I contact for Inpatient Care?
Admissions and Disposition Office located on first floor, oceanside entrance, Room No. 1A017, telephone 433-6112.
Information for Medical Correspondence/Release of Information?
The Medical Correspondence Office is located on the Gl (basement) floor of the Oceanside A wing, room 152 (GlA/152). Patients needing copies of their inpatient or outpatient medical records must complete a request form before Medical Correspondence can release any medical information. Examples of release of information include Temporary Disability Insurance, medical statements, lab or x-ray results to CHAMPUS or other outside physicians, retrieval of medical information from other hospitals or physicians, PCS/ETS, and personal copies of medical records. Medical information will not be released to spouses without patient ID card, power of attorney and patient signature on request/release form. If you have any questions, please call 433-2527.
How do I get copies of my Outpatient Medical Records?
The Outpatient Records Office is collocated with the Mountainside Information Desk in the 4G lobby area. Family Practice patient records are maintained separately in the Family Practice Records Office, located at the clinic on 1 D (Oceanside) wing. Patients visiting Tripler for walk-in appointments or who make next-day or same-day appointments must pick up their records from their respective records office. You must present your 10 card and your outpatient medical card when picking up records. Medical records for appointments made 48 hours in advance through the Tripler Patient Appointment System, will have already been forwarded to the appropriate clinic. Patients with records maintained at other military health clinics must hand-carry their medical records to Tripler clinics.
Patient's Rights and Responsibilities?
Patients have the right to medical and dental care and treatment consistent with available resources and accepted standards. Patients have the responsibility to provide accurate and complete information about complaints, past illness, hospitalization, medications, and other matters relating to their health, to their health care provider.

Patients and visitors have the right to considerate and respectful care, with recognition of personal dignity Patients should be considerate of the rights of other patients and medical and dental staff. The patient must respect the property of others and of the facility.

Patients have the right to privacy and confidentiality (as permitted by law and regulation) concerning medical care.

Patients have the right to know at all times the identity, professional status, and professional credentials of health care personnel, as well as the names of the health care providers responsible for their care.

Patients have the right to respectful and responsive care which includes treatment of symptoms and effective pain management from birth through the end of life.

Patients also have the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and government regulations, and to be informed of the consequences of refusal.

Patients must be advised if the facility proposes to perform research associated with his or her care or treatment. Patients have the right to refuse to participate in any research projects.

Patients have the right to an explanation concerning diagnosis, treatment, procedures, and prognosis of illness in non-medical terms that the patient can understand, in order to make knowledgeable decisions on treatment. Such information should include complications, risks, benefits, and alternative treatments. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information should be provided to appropriate family member or, in their absence, another appropriate person. Patients are responsible for participation with the health care provider in designing a medical treatment plan to include follow up care that they will be able to comply with. This includes keeping appointments on time and notifying the facility when appointments cannot be kept.

Patients must ensure medical records are promptly returned to the medical facility for appropriate filing and maintenance when records are transported by the patient. All medical records documenting care provided are the property of the U.S. Government.

Patients have the right to care and treatment in a safe environment.

Patients have the right and responsibility to seek information from the Health Benefits Advisors regarding health care expenses.

Patients and visitors will be informed and need to follow the Medical Center's rules and regulations concerning patient conduct, to include regulations regarding smoking, noise control and number of visitors. By following these rules, patients will help the Medical Center Commander provide the best possible care for all beneficiaries.

Patients may request assistance from any member of the TAMC staff. Questions regarding quality of medical care of other concerns may be addressed to the Patient Representative at 433-6336 or the Inspector General at 433-6619.
How to protect and secure Patient Valuables?
To protect and secure funds and your valuables, there is a Patients' Trust Fund where you may deposit your funds and valuables at the time of admission. It is located in the Treasurer's Office in 3H, 433-6100. You are reminded to pick up your valuables on Friday prior to 4:00 p.m. if you are planning to leave the hospital on Saturday or Sunday.
Where can I have a cigarette?
Tripler is a smoke free facility
Where is the Surgical Admission Center?
The Surgical Admission Center (SAC) consists of the Preoperative Anesthesia Conference (PAC) for patients going to surgery the Same-Day Admission program, and the Ambulatory Surgery Center. The PAC appointments are made 1 to 30 days before surgery for anesthesia and nursing assessments, and to complete other preoperative requirements as needed.

The Surgical Admission Center is located on the 6^th floor, B-Wing, and it is open Monday through Friday. Appointment phone numbers are 433-1190 or 433-1740. The nursing station phone number is 433-5998.
What is the Third Party Collection Program?
The Third Party Collection Office is on the third floor, H Wing. The phone number is 433-9524. You will be asked whether you have health insurance when you are admitted to Tripler. Under the law, we are required to determine if the government's cost of your care can be recovered from companies providing group and individual health insurance. If you are covered by a health insurance policy, or are a member of an HMO (such as Kaiser or Island Care) we will need your insurance information. The obligation to pay medical care costs applies only to the insurance carrier. You will not be sent a bill for amounts not covered by the carrier. Tripler is entitled to obtain the same benefits for its health care services that any other medical care provider would receive. Your insurance company will pay benefits directly to us and you will not be billed for any uncollected charges. Often your insurance company will initially apply the amount of the bill towards your annual deductible, which helps you meet your deductible.

If your carrier pays any portion of your inpatient bill, you will not be billed by Tripler for the hospital daily charge rate during your stay. Insurance payments are now a very important revenue source. We depend upon them to continue providing quality services and specialized programs during deficit reduction measures by Congress.
How do I get a Ward Absence Status?
A 'ward absence' status may be granted while you are a patient under the following conditions: When it is determined to have therapeutic value, patients may be authorized absence from the hospital up until midnight of the same day without being discharged. Patients may be granted this status upon approval of the Ward Medical Officer. Once your physician has written orders for your absence, the nursing staff will assist you with the details. Daily hospital charges continue to be applied during the period of absence.
Where do I go to find military hospitals or clinics?
Use the TRICARE Military Treatment Facility (MTF) Locator at www.TRICARE.mil/MTF to search for facilities by state, name, or ZIP code.

Military Health System FAQs

Find answers to your Military Health System questions
Do I need to register for online secure services?
No. Your secure services will not change as a result of the website transition. Continue to use your same site and login for secure services. Visit the www.TRICARE.mil/securelogin to find your portal for secure services.
Where can I learn more about the changes happening with the Military Health System?
To learn more about MHS Transformation, visit www.Health.mil/Transformation. For updates on the TRICARE benefit, visit www.TRICARE.mil/changes.
Why are the military hospital and clinic websites moving?
By law, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) must manage all military hospitals and clinics beginning 1 OCT 2018. The website transition is just one piece of this change. To learn more, visit www.health.mil/Transformation.
Where can I find and compare information about military hospital performance?
You can access military hospital metrics on topics such patient safety, satisfaction, quality of care, and overall ratings on the MHS Transparency Page.
What does the web transition mean to me?
While there are changes to the site look and feel, and a new URL, there are no gaps in quality or delivery. Your local MTF staff continues to manage and update the content.

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