I’ve been having issues with Pediatrics on RAFL. My kids (3year son & 2year old daughter) have been sick for about 5 weeks.. running nose, coughing…. A mild cold. After 1 week of being sick, I tried going to the bx, commissary, & shopette to get meds for them but they don’t sell anything for children under the age of 4 or 6. So week 2 of being sick, I called Pediatrics to make an appointment. They were all booked up. I had 3 options.. have a nurse call me back, go to the E.R., or call back the next day at 7am and get an appointment for that day. So I have the nurse call me back. She calls give me a few things that I can do at home. I do them, they don’t work. I even went to the commissary and got them meds and give it to them. Week 3, I call them back to get them in for an appointment. Still all booked up. They give me the 3 options again. So I take my kids to the E.R. (for a cold!). The people in the ER think it’s a joke that I’m bringing my kids in for a cough & running nose.. which it completely is. The doctor sees the kids, doesn’t know exactly know what’s wrong with them, prescribes them meds, and tell me to make a follow up appointment with pediatrics because they need to be seen by a pediatrician. Week 4, giving them the prescribed meds.. Not helping.. Seems to be making them worse. Now they have running nose, constant coughing, fevers, lose of appetite, diarrhea, fatigue, and vomiting. So I call pediatrics again, this time at 7am, as instructed to get a “that day“ appointment. They book me an appointment for 12days later! Now we are at week 5, I call again today at 7am to get them seen today. Nope.. All booked up. I am very annoyed by this point. My kids have been sick for over a month now. My son is missing school. I talked to 2 ladies, all they can tell me is they are booked up, I cant see the pediatrician, and to go to the ER.

FINALLY (lol ^ sorry its a lot of reading)… my problem(s)… I don’t want to take my kids to the ER again because the doctor isn’t a pediatrician. AND how can the pediatrics be “all booked up“? Where do I take my kids to see a kid doctor? Is there clinics on RAFM? This wouldn’t be such a problem if we were in the states because I would go to another doctors office. But where do I go here that’s nearby? Is there anywhere I can go to make a complaint? Does it even matter if I make a complaint because its military? I think this is unacceptable heath care for families in foreign country. Am I over reacting? Has anybody else had this problem?

Any info would help ;) Thanks so much for reading 

ICE Complaint

You can go here to make a complaint. I don't know where you would go off base although I thought you would have to get a referal to go off base from a doc at the clinic to get Tricare to pay for it, if that's your insurance provider. 

Two words- patient advocate.

This is one of my biggest complaints about being here. 

Yeah I get the same crap for the call at 7am. I call at 7 and sit on hold till 8 usually. as IF I haven't got better things to do, like tend to my ill child. Well, if nothing else, maybe you can go up and stand there and demand (ask nicely ;) ) to see a nurse in person and explain all this?? There are ways in, and sometimes you might have to push harder, go in round about ways to get what you need.
I'm sorry I've been here for 2.5 years and have fought and fought with them to get a proper diagnosis for my son for asthma. I had some phone nurse tell me to wake my son up 3x a night and steam him. Um, are you SERIOUS??? I've got far too much experience with this. Give me a break.
Anyway frankly, I'm NOT one of those annoying people, but I just got that way. I'm not stupid and really the LAST thing I need is them talking down to me everytime. Therefore, I just decided to annoy them into submission. ;)
That said, there is a new ped. that I just met and I really like her. She was far more intuitive about what was going on with my son. She was more interested in HELPING my son than just talking over me and treating me like an idiot. I dare say that I think in a lot of ways they may treat us like that b/c they get inundated with people who abuse the system and haven't got a lick of common sense. However, that does not mean that we individually should not be managed accordingly. Most certainly not when it comes to our KIDS.
I find it more abusive to have to go to the ER for things that could be handled at the pediatricians office.

I really miss the way they did it back home. I got to use off base pediatricians and dr's for myself and my kids. SO much better.
I hate it b/c when you DO get in, they are just prescription happy and don't care to get to the root of the issue at all. 

You should become the 'annoying parent" lol sounds bad I know, but it could work!! Cal constantly throughout the day, and if you have too call the same the next day.. demand an appt., go to patient advocacy, go up the chain, who knows, but become annoying and they will get you in. 

aaaaah, I'm not the only one! This actually started causing a little grief in my marriage when I was flipping out that my husband could be seen at the drop of a hat, but my kids and I have to jump through hoops to be seen (I get it that military should be seen as frequently as they need, but come on, one of the "benefits" we have for being military is health care--how is it a benefit if we can't be seen?)
SF Giant, I take my kids off base. They are registered with an NHS number and get seen when they need to. I feel bad that our host nation has to look after my kids, but I do ONLY go when I'm against a wall. Good Luck, I hope your kiddos get better soon! 

When you call Peds again, ask to speak to their Patient Advocate personal. There is one for every department. This will automatically raise flages! The front dest clerk will automatically say something like " Ummmm, is there anything I can help you with?" Just skip the whole explaining process to them, and just say "No, I want to speak to the Patient Avoicate for Peds." and they should transfer you. This will get the ball rolling. ;) 

I'd definitely get them registered off-base with your local NHS GP if you can. I can phone any time of the day and get seen the same day! 

Definitely go to an off-base doctors - get them registered - I did that and my son was seen the same day and given medication. Don't have to pay as they are under 16 for prescription. 

@ Masterchef.. Thanks! I will definitely put a complaint in there ;)

@aimee.. I agree with you completely! They talk down to me all the time. My mom is nurse so I know a thing or two. Back in the states, I never went to military doctors lol

@jessi.. I think im going to have to be the annoying parent but I don’t think that is right. My husband puts up his life for the military and his kids cant be seen by a pediatrician? doesn’t seem right to me. They ship us thousands of miles from home and all we know, and we cant get decent medical care. I don’t think I should have to waste my time calling and calling for an appoinment. One call. that’s it. But I am taking this advices and going to annoying some people lol

@jeni.. My husband has to hear me going off all the time about this lol What is a NHS number? Where do I get that?

@Steph.. So patient advocate is where I complain? Awesome! Im going to say exactly what you wrote lol!

I hate the fact of taking them off base because I don’t think it’s the British’s job to take care of our kids. The US military should be taking care of us! Especially while we are overseas!

Thank you Thank you for all the help :D 

Its only going to get worse with budget cuts. Expect to start paying for medical caRE. Tricare is the biggest money pit in the Militaries budget and its just getting worse. If it keeps going like this Tricare will cripple the military. Some have said Tricare is the biggest threat to the US more so than terrorism and this is nothing compared to civilian HMOs . We have it good. How many DRs are deployed right now? You think the DRs are all on Facebook all day BSing? No they are doing with what they have. How about you have them get 5 more patients in a day and they rush and they screw up and kill your kids? Now what? Go complain to the Tsgt Patient Advocate nothign will be done because it cant be done. If the person on the phone was rude yeah call them but do you think the patient advocate is going to call AFPC and get 20 more DRs? Nope cause there is a shortage everywhere.
At "my last base" I got emails saying dont call the clinic cause they have no openings for the next 2 weeks.
If your kid was sick you go to a hospital 45 minutes away and wait for 6 hours to get Cough medicine for your kid that is $4 at the BX. What pisses me off is when AD cant get seen. (thats why that big building is there for AD) I call and they tell me they dont have an Appt available I tell them to cancel a retireee or dependant appt Im AD. 

Oh and go online and make appts so much easier 

Matt- So, what you are saying is this womans children should not be seen cause you think it is not a priority, EVEN though they have been sick for a month. Well.... What if they have pneumonia or something else that is deadly?? OHHH but WAIT, Matt said being sick for a month is ok! Cause he is active duty and should be able to bump dependents and retiree's even if it is life, limb or sight for HIS cough. AWWWW poor baby.


Guess what MATT, somethings need attention, such as this. If this was your children, you would ignore it?? UMMMM glad I am not your child. ALSO, Patient Advocate DOES work, cause I have had to use the service before (sad to say), but they do their job!

So, next time you start to want to shot off at the mouth, think about your family or if you had one, and what would you do. And if it is let them be sick for more than the recommended 12 days, then, maybe you should take a look at your thought process again. Remember, we are not State side. 

First off the hospital isnt there for dependents its for AD. If Im sick I HAVE TO go to Sick Call to get excused from work. I cant just call in sick. British Drs. are just as good as US DRs so the "stateside" comment is irrelevant.
Head to the ER. The ER Dr. Will make a follow up Appt for you to follow up the next day. I had a troop do this last week no appts for a week he went to the ER and then had a follow on the next day. Easy Cheezy. Yeah going to the ER for a cold sounds stupid and really isnt a necessary but there becomes a point when you have to do what you have to do.
The OP posted she could of made an appt several times but chose not tovand now there is a 12 day wait. Have you tried online? 

I agree with Matt, but I feel like a bad person for doing so. 

I never have a problem with Peds mine is usually with getting a dr at the family practice for me. As for the ER they don't know anything there. I go in and the tell me they never know what is wrong other than telling me the symptoms I have. No duh I know my own symptoms. I do all my stuff online now you are more likely to get in. I know Peds is very busy for some reason right now though. Everything out here is slow and the dr dont know anything from anything in my opinion. They do not listen to anything you have to tell them and seem to not know how to treat anything for me personally half the time I go in. The one thing they can manage to do right is my yearly exam. Lol 

Matt, question.....when was last time you had a troop that was young enough to be treated at Pediatrics?

I may be a dependent but last I checked on my ID at the top it read "United States Uniformed Services". This is just like what my old school US Army Active Duty ID says (except it reads "Armed" instead of "Uniformed").

The hospital isn't there to treat troops first and foremost. It is there to fill a need, regardless of Military Status. Not trying to start any drama, I just simply don't agree with the comment "First off the hospital isn't there for dependents its for AD". Been there done that, I'm a veteran....AND a spouse.

It seems the hospital is undermanned however, this may be the cause of the appointment issues? 

Well, if you want my opinion (coming from a person who has worked there- not now however) the reason it is hard to make appointments is because A.) it is free so everyone and their mother runs to make an appointment at the first sign of a sniffle rather than even trying home care first. I am all for having co-pays to help cut down on the "abuse" of the system, but like that will ever happen because people have this strong sense of "entitlement." And B.) of all these people who run to make an appointment, we used to have a 4-6 per day NO SHOW rate because people arent really sick and decide it is too much of an incontinence to keep their appointment and decide to just not come vs calling and letting the clinic know- thus blocking up appointments for everyone else who may truly be sick.

I can honestly say that working in the Peds Clinic was the worst job I have ever had in my entire life. Not because of the kids, but some of the parents are truly evil. I have been called every name in the book, the best was "American pond scum" for actually TRYING to make an appointment for someone, but all the times we had were not convenient for the parent. 1.) Speak to the patient advocate- Ive had to do this myself at another base. They can help you out. 2.) Call the nurse advice line. They go off of protocols, so if you fit within a protocol, you WILL get an appointment (sorry, but that is what triage is). 3.) Go to the ER, they also will tell Peds to make an appt if deemed necessary. Keep in mind that we are coming into cold and flu season, so they are going to be busy because everyone usually comes down with a cold, then a week or so later start the ear infections. Unfortunately, clinics can not magically create appointments out of thin air, since most docs are seeing patients every 10-15 minutes. If you are TRULY worried about your child and can not get an appointment in the clinic- TAKE THEM TO THE ER. That is what it is there for. It may "inconvenience" them, but you have to be your child's advocate and do what is best for your child. 

Matt, question.....when was last time you had a troop that was young enough to be treated at Pediatrics?


Thank you Bulletproof, was just going to say the same thing!

Also was woundering, if the hospital was only there for AD, then why IS there a Peds? Just a thought!


Also, GREAT advice Shannon!! :) This will help more than one person on here! Thank you very much for posting it! 

@ matt.. enough has been said to you.. Bahahaha

@ Shannon.. Im sure these moms make appointments at the first sign of illness.. Yet I waited until they had been sick for 2weeks and even after them being sick for 5weeks, I still couldn’t get an appointment. Im fine with paying a co-pay also or even a fine for missing your appointment. The ER couldn’t do much for them because “they are too young” but they did schedule them a follow up appointment :)

I think if they are “all booked up” then they should give another option to see a pediatrician somewhere else or give you an appointment within the next day or 2. I wasn’t asking to be seen that day. I called one morning at 7am and they gave me an appointment for the next week. Then I called back around 10am the same day to ask for an appointment for the next day or two (just to be an a** because I knew they wont give me an appointment). They told me “we cant see the appointment schedule until 7am the day of.” ummm.. Then how did I get the appointment for next week. I told the lady “I’ve tried calling at 7am, the nurse’s advice, and been to the er. I want my kids to be seen by a pediatrician.” she got an attitude so I asked to speak with who ever was in charge. Then another lady gets on the phone and tell me the same thing.. Call at 7am for a “that day” appointment. I have tried that! They tell me, we are all booked up, call tomorrow. Me or my kids dont get up at 7am (especially if we been up all night due to coughing). I don’t think it should be this much of a hassle to get a dam appointment. I call and call at 7am.. Lines are busy.. They are booked up already. I don’t need a nurse giving me hippie remedies for at home (I know what to do when my kids are sick.. It isn’t working they need a ped). The er doesn’t specialize in children.. I need a child doctor. If they are booked up that day. Give me a appointment for the next day. Start over booking (that’s what the WAITING room is for… Waiting). Give me an option to go to another ped office.. Off base, another base, I don’t care. Don’t just tell me “we are all booked up, call again tomorrow”. don’t get an attitude with me over the phone. Hmmmm maybe ill apply in peds… well after Shannon’s comment… maybe not lol 

First off I have never had an issue with Ped's my kids rarely if ever get sick, same with myself, unless I am bleeding or a bone is broken I don't go in either.

Secondly, I kind of asked around about the legality of going "off base" without a referal. It is actually considered fraud as you (everyone AD, Dep., Veteran) have health care already and the NHS is for those who don't. Just thought I would throw that in there. I don't know the details on all of this, this is just what I was told when I asked. I am not trying to start anything but just wanted folks to be aware. 

You know, that is kinda what I thought, that you had to have a referal, unless your children were born here or you are a British national.

Only reason I bring up the born here thing is when childern are born here, they give you a NHS number for them. (Even if they are American, I know, am working on second to be born here) But that would not apply for SFGiant's case.

But, Jehn brings up a good point, ever time I have been seen off base, was due to referral. Due to the fact that Tricare has to approve it; and the approval generally has to be based on the fact that the hositpal here does not have certain capabitalities and a need for it(example Level two utrasound for pregnante women, they don't have the machine on base to do the exam)


Also, let me state for the record, even though my daughter has a NHS number because of birth here, does not mean we use it. First and for most, she is a military dependent and hold Tricare benifits. I am in NO way avocating using a NHS number to those whom have had children here. When my daughter had to go see a specialist off base for her eyes, we still went though the referal system like everyone else.

I personally believe that the NHS is for nationals; and like Jenh said, is for those whom do not already have health coverage.

I am not tring to start anything as well, just am stating what my self and my family have been doing personally in our 2 1/2 years here. 

I don’t need a nurse giving me hippie remedies for at home (I know what to do when my kids are sick.. It isn’t working they need a ped).

This right here is an example of the attitude I would get talking to people and trying to HELP them on the phone. The appointment line people can NOT triage. All they can do is book appointments. Appointments normally are open about a month out. A NURSE who CAN TRIAGE has the power to see acute (same day) appointments for the future (appointment line people dont). A NURSE will triage you and MAKE the appointment for you if you fit the triage criteria. Tell them you want to leave a TCON (message) for the nurse. The nurses work side by side with the doctors. Contrary to popular belief, they are not stupid and will most likely give you the exact same advice as the doctor would. Infact, every time you speak to the nurse, a report is generated and it goes directly to the doctor to be reviewed and signed off on. 

If you call the nurse hotline they can usually get you a same day apppointment. Basically any cancelations they can get you in but the peds nurses that answer the phones cannot access these.

I've also heard that people have an easier time booking appointments sooner via the tricare website, so another thing to try.

I do agree it's annoying. I've taken my kids to the ER for ear infections and most the dr's are understanding but I got one that treated me like an idiot. Well, if they could see me in PEDS I wouldn't be here, thank you very much!! I think she may have been more annoyed that I went in at night when the fevers and such started instead of waiting for the AM, but I knew that the peds was backed up as I had tried to make an appointment with them recently and knew if I waited I'd just end up at the ER the next day anyways... 

@ jenh & steph.. I don’t think this apply to me because I don’t know what a NHS number is lol. My kids don’t have one. They were both born in the states.

@ shannon.. I not really sure what you are trying to say. I call the appointment line for an appointment not for help with my kids (that’s why I need an appointment with the ped). I know these girls that answer the phones cant help me. I personally don’t need advice form the nurse. I KNOW what to do when my kids are sick (my mother is a RN so I KNOW nurses are not stupid nor did I ever say they were). I however didn’t know they could make appointments (good to know :)Thanks). But that’s not the point.. I called & called & called. I did the 3 options (went to the er, tried the nurse's advice, & called at 7am)and still couldn’t get an appointment. When I told them I had did the 3 optionsa and my kids were still sick and need to see the pedestrian, they told me NO. This is not expectable to me and the lady was rude towards me.

@ laurie.. I have only called the nurse advice line for myself and they just tell me to go the er but I haven’t called for my kids. Maybe I should just call the nurse rather than peds or just go online.. Thanks for the advice :) 

For two weeks I tried treating my daughter's cough at home with all the over the counter stuff but nothing helped. So when I called for an appointment I was told the only one available was a week later so I went ahead and took it. Thursday we spent the afternoon having to get x-rays taken because they thought she had phenumia. My daughter never ran a high fever, no sore throats, etc just a nasty cough so I wasn't worried but it just goes to show that even simple things might not be so simple.

I do think that it is silly that we have to wait a week for an appointment. But here is the sad truth like everything in the military the hospital is hit with deployments, extra duties, etc and expected to do more with less so yes somethings are going to slack and sadly in a customer field people will complain and b*tch but it is no excuse for being rude or mean. Now on the opposite side as a mother or instinct is to defend or children and if we do not feel that they are being treated fairly or whatnot they will get defensive. Also what I have found is that when my kids get sick they all get sick and normally at night..so if you have a mom who has been up all night with sick miserable kids give her a break (but that doesn't give her the right to be mean or rude just maybe not as friendly as she would be under normal situations).

Matt--I am assuming you are still a young airman with no kids or family. One of the main reason's my husband has stayed in the AF was simply for the medical and not having to worry when one of our daughter's get sick or hurt of how we are going to pay medical bill. My father served 30 years in the AF and retired as a Chief you think you are more entitled to medical coverage then him? My mother served 10 years AD then seperated to follow my father around the world so he could serve without having to worry about us kids and whatnot but you think you are more important then her? 

Well ya know the thing about the hospital only being for AD, um...that would be incorrect 10x over. Duh.
They shipped us ALL over here. Our entire FAMILY, including a spouse and two children. They make us go through loads of appointments prior to coming, we have to get what??? Medical clearance to ensure the HOSPITAL ON BASE can care for us.
To my recollection, I was running around like crazy with myself AND my kids getting all of this clearance to come over here to be treated at the hospital on base. Not to be sure I can be treated off base. So, whoever told you that the hospital was really ONLY for AD was a single person with no dependents at all. As anyone thinking that, being stationed overseas, would only think.
They would rather you go ON base, even back in the states. Its cheaper. I was sooooo thankful to get to go OFF base b/c we had the same problem there. For me though, they wouldn't see my kids at all anyway. Funny though how I ended up making friends with a girl who happened to work the appt desk and told me to just text her when I needed an appt and huh...it's crazy how easy it was from there on.
Anyway, the problem is the people that abuse it. I understand the people that work there are likely jaded b/c the appt's are all full of people that don't know how to wipe their kids nose themselves.

I thought it was interesting that the last time I was in the peds there was a questionnaire about how you handle situations with your child's illnesses.
Well, that may answer it right there b/c there was no option for handling it yourself. Frankly every option was something I'd care for myself at home anyway. So maybe if they'd start figuring out who the abusers are it would open up room for the people who have kids that actually need to be seen.
Also, for some of the SCARY things I've seen and heard, some parenting classes for basic care during simple illnesses and ailments would probably be a good place to start. That's not being RUDE, but honest. Seriously.

To the OP though, have you gotten to see someone and are your kids getting better?

We stayed in for the healthcare as well... 

First off I have been in along time even before Tricare was started. If you were around then and you went to the ER you needed a referral # or you better be able to prove it was an Emergency of sight life or limb if not you paid for it. That sucked collection agencies calling you over a $5,000 ER trip because your kid was sick needed XRays and test for pneumonia and Tricare was still debating if you should of gone or not. Then in the late 90s they pretty much said go to the ER off base we are booked we suck go somewhere else we dont care here is a card with the info the Drs need stay away from us. Also I have 3 kids Lakenheath is AWESOME compared to other bases I have been to. Like its been said and I said Making an appt is a game. You need to know the rules and how to play. I "trump" as AD Retirees and Dependants to get care. Its pretty much like taking a hop. AD is #1. I know when I retire Im screwed. I hear it all the time from my friends who are retired who complain what they used to do its happening to them now. And yes a E-1 with 30 days in has a higher priority than a RETIRED 30 year E-9.
From an AF.mil article from a base in the states from this last July. "Active duty calling between 6:30 and 8 a.m. will be given first priority for acute appointments. After 8 a.m. any unfilled acute appointments will be made available to all beneficiaries." Anymore questions? 

Matt,

There were no questions for you, just the fact that you stated the hospital was here only for AD, which is not.

No one ever said that AD does not get priority over us in other area's, like Dental and Family Practice, cause you do. But when it comes to PEDS, ADULTS don't get seen there! There for, NO AD members have priority there!

I am pretty sure you are missing the point. This is not about Dental or Family Practice, but about PEDS. 

I am sorry, I reinterate, I asked a question that why do they have a Peds at all. So there was a question.