Providers tour Ramstein medical facilities

Members from the TRICARE-Europe Preferred Provider Network toured medical facilities they help support on Ramstein June 4 in an effort to bring host nation physicians and medical staff together.

Among those facilities was the 435th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility, as well as a static tour of an aircraft primarily used for transportation of patients. Providers were met by members of Ramstein’s medical team who explained patient care processes while in flight.

“It is a unique job to share how the Air Force goes to great lengths to provide for patients,” said Staff Sgt. David Hill, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron instructor. “It showed the providers the capability of air transport and how patients are provided for.”

The intent of the face-to-face meeting was to help reassure patients and medical staff of the care and support offered by a host nation provider.

“The visit was a great way of facilitating that the patients seen by the host nation partners are getting quality care,” said Lt. Col. Gregory Sweiter, 435th Medical Group medical staff chief. “This also helps with building a relationship to alleviate the barrier between the nations.”

The TRICARE-Europe Preferred Provider Network consists of host nation health care
providers who provide care to TRICARE beneficiaries and assist them with filing claims, billing support and reimbursements.

“The providers work together with the military members and their families to ensure and sustain TRICARE benefits in an overseas environment,” said Col. Charles Williams, TRICARE Europe area office director.

These preferred providers are trained to meet the same standards as military doctors and help provide more than 24 different specialties the medical group is not able to provide overseas.

“The preferred providers are a very important role of medical care overseas,” said Col. Angela Thompson, 435th MDG commander. “Partnerships were cemented by the social meeting and relay of information firsthand about the base.”

More than 92 countries are represented in this program with more than 250,000 beneficiaries.