Access to medical services when clinic is closed Published April 9, 2013 By 412th Medical Group EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 412th Medical Group clinic is closed on weekends, government holidays, and family down days. The clinic is also closed on the first Monday of every month for Training Day. If the first Monday of the month is a holiday, then the clinic will be closed on the second Monday of the month. Training Day provides the medical personnel with time to complete all required medical readiness training, commander's calls, and professional staff training needed to maintain accreditations so that they can continue to provide quality patient care, meet mission requirements and deploy medics at a moment's notice. When the clinic is closed, the medical services can be accessed if you need same-day service that can't wait for the following business day. Emergency care involving life, limb, or eyesight can be accessed by dialing 911. If you are on base, emergency services can be more efficiently accessed via the Emergency Control Center at (661) 277-4540. The base paramedic ambulance service will respond, stabilize, and transport you to the nearest emergency room for definitive care. For urgent care issues that can't wait until the next business day, you can access care by calling the Nurse Advice line at (866) 535-4137 which will provide you with the authorization to go to Urgent Care. If you call the appointment line at (661) 277-7118 and the clinic is closed, stay on the line. It will automatically be transferred to the Nurse Advice Line which will provide you with the authorization to go to Urgent Care. Urgent care problems are issues that are not life threatening but may or may not be of serious consequence if not addressed on the same day. This includes treatment of minor fractures, minor lacerations, foreign bodies, persistent fever and cough, etc. Many of the problems that are currently treated in hospital emergency departments can receive more timely treatment in less than 1-2 hours at an urgent care center. But unlike emergencies, you need an authorization from either the clinic or the Nurse Advice line before you seek care. If the Military Treatment Facility pharmacy is not available, prescriptions can be filled through retail network pharmacies or TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. Network pharmacies are fast, convenient, and can fill scripts for a small co-pay. TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery is the least expensive option and best suited for medications you take on a regular basis. You may receive up to a 90-day supply of medications for minimal out-of-pocket costs. There is only one copayment for each prescription filled (up to a 90 day supply). Additionally, you can enjoy the convenience of having medications delivered directly to your home with free standard shipping and refills can easily be ordered online, by phone, or by mail. If you have questions about your prescriptions, pharmacists are available 24/7 to answer your questions confidentially. For more information about TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery, visit www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE/homedelivery/ or call (877) 363-1303. Note: If you are active duty, you don't have to pay any copays for network pharmacy or home delivery. The 412th MDG highly values timely and responsive customer service. We have a very robust Patient Advocate Program that is ready to field and respond to a variety of customer concerns. Patient Advocates are assigned to all patient care areas as well as at the MDG level and are ready to provide immediate and convenient assistance to all of our customers. If you have any concerns, please contact the Patient Advocate from the clinic of concern or contact Lt. Col. Kathleen Browning at (661) 275-2698. They will be happy to immediately address any issue.