TRICARE Returns to Building 1090 Published June 13, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Nathan Allen 314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The TRICARE office, after a brief stay in building 1240, has returned to the 314th Medical Group after significant renovations to their work area. "In October 2007, we moved the TRICARE service center from the 314th Medical Group building to the altitude chamber so that we could accomplish a renovation of the TRICARE service center," says Mr. James Harrington, 314th Medical Support Squadron TRICARE operations and patient administration flight commander. According to Mr. Harrington, under their old working conditions, there were limitations on the customer service that could be provided. The renovations will help create a more customer friendly and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. "One of the big pluses of the renovation project is an improved waiting area for the patients," he said. "The cubicles that the beneficiary service representatives used have been converted into offices that will allow a more private situation for individuals to discuss their health care benefit issues with the benefit representatives," he said. Mr. Harrington also pointed out the convenience of being able to receive treatment and quality TRICARE customer service under the same roof. "Not all bases have the TRICARE service centers located within the medical group. We made a commitment here at Little Rock Air Force Base in 1995 to provide the convenience to our customers and the medical staff of having our TRICARE service center within the same facility. " "When we opened up the newly renovated section of the medical group that we're in now two years ago, people were blown away by the cleanliness and aesthetics of our facilities," Harrington said. "When you go to a doctor's office downtown, you expect to be provided a clean, comfortable environment to receive your health care...the taxpayers and the beneficiaries of the military health care system should be very proud of this facility." According to Lt. Col. John Powers, 314th Medical Group deputy commander, the TRICARE office renovations are only a subset of renovations going on throughout the entire hospital. "Over the past four years we have been systematically going around the entire facility upgrading and converting it from a hospital into a clinic," said Colonel Powers. "We just found out last week that we're getting two more projects funded, so when those are complete this facility is going to be 95 percent brand new." "The TRICARE service center is just a piece of that. For four years in a row we've gotten 150 percent of our typical budget to modernize and make things better for Little Rock Air Force Base," he said. The TRICARE office will provide uninterrupted service during their relocation. The move began Wednesday and they will be completely moved into Bldg. 1090 by today.
TRICARE Returns to Building 1090 Published June 13, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Nathan Allen 314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The TRICARE office, after a brief stay in building 1240, has returned to the 314th Medical Group after significant renovations to their work area. "In October 2007, we moved the TRICARE service center from the 314th Medical Group building to the altitude chamber so that we could accomplish a renovation of the TRICARE service center," says Mr. James Harrington, 314th Medical Support Squadron TRICARE operations and patient administration flight commander. According to Mr. Harrington, under their old working conditions, there were limitations on the customer service that could be provided. The renovations will help create a more customer friendly and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. "One of the big pluses of the renovation project is an improved waiting area for the patients," he said. "The cubicles that the beneficiary service representatives used have been converted into offices that will allow a more private situation for individuals to discuss their health care benefit issues with the benefit representatives," he said. Mr. Harrington also pointed out the convenience of being able to receive treatment and quality TRICARE customer service under the same roof. "Not all bases have the TRICARE service centers located within the medical group. We made a commitment here at Little Rock Air Force Base in 1995 to provide the convenience to our customers and the medical staff of having our TRICARE service center within the same facility. " "When we opened up the newly renovated section of the medical group that we're in now two years ago, people were blown away by the cleanliness and aesthetics of our facilities," Harrington said. "When you go to a doctor's office downtown, you expect to be provided a clean, comfortable environment to receive your health care...the taxpayers and the beneficiaries of the military health care system should be very proud of this facility." According to Lt. Col. John Powers, 314th Medical Group deputy commander, the TRICARE office renovations are only a subset of renovations going on throughout the entire hospital. "Over the past four years we have been systematically going around the entire facility upgrading and converting it from a hospital into a clinic," said Colonel Powers. "We just found out last week that we're getting two more projects funded, so when those are complete this facility is going to be 95 percent brand new." "The TRICARE service center is just a piece of that. For four years in a row we've gotten 150 percent of our typical budget to modernize and make things better for Little Rock Air Force Base," he said. The TRICARE office will provide uninterrupted service during their relocation. The move began Wednesday and they will be completely moved into Bldg. 1090 by today.