HEALTH CARE
Much of the health care for Charleston’s active duty, military retirees and their dependents is provided by Naval Health Clinic Charleston (NHCC). The current main facility is located on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston. NHCC’s Branch Medical Clinic (BMC), Dental Clinic, Wellness Clinic, and Optometry Clinic are located on the Naval Weapons Station.
NHCC’s goal is to provide comprehensive health care for all beneficiaries. NHCC services 61,000 beneficiaries including 11,929 active duty members, 14,877 active duty family members, and 26,416 retirees and family members. Navy medical personnel also provide care for 4,000 students and staff assigned to the Navy Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) and Nuclear Power Training Unit at a satellite clinic located on the NNPTC campus. NHCC supports Naval Weapons Station and tenant commands in addition to Air Force, Army, Marine and Coast
Guard personnel and families.
In March, 2007, ground was broken at the Naval Weapons Station for a new 188,000 square foot Department of Defense and Veteran’s Affairs (DoD/VA) Consolidated Medical Clinic. The $41.5 million construction project will consolidate all existing Navy military medical services while expanding Veterans Affairs support for South Carolina’s veterans. This new state of the art facility, called the John G. Federer Ambulatory Care Clinic, will ensure that beneficiaries have the best, most comprehensive and convenient care possible. The new medical clinic is scheduled for completion in 2009.
Naval Health Clinic Charleston (NNPTC Circle)
110 NNPTC Circle
Goose Creek, SC 29445
Information: (843) 794-6000
Central Appointments: (843) 794-6221
Pharmacy: (843) 794-6100
Tricare: (843) 794-6030
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday-Friday
The mission of NHCC is to ensure comprehensive readiness
and provide compassionate patient-centered health services
with the highest quality, innovation and value to all beneficiaries. NHCC’s vision is to be the premier system providing seamless, cutting edge health care across the continuum for DoD and
VA beneficiaries.
NHCC provides Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Otolaryngology (ENT), Dermatology, General Surgery, and Radiology appointments in addition to certified laboratory and pharmacy services.
Naval Health Clinic Charleston Branch
Medical Clinic (Naval Weapons Station)
Building 731, Pulaski Street
Naval Weapons Station
Central Appointments: (843) 743-3709
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday
The NHCC Branch Medical Clinic provides patient-centered health care with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion, and shares the NHCC mission and vision. It provides primary health care for all ages to include adult physical exams, baby and child exams, well-woman exams including Pap smears and breast exams, immunizations, audiology, and disease prevention education. In addition, patients have access to radiology, pharmacy, and laboratory services. Eligible patients include military members and their families stationed at the
Naval Weapons Station and tenant commands. In addition, the Optometry Clinic provides a full scope of optometry care for patients age five and older (for TRICARE Prime beneficiaries).
The on-base Branch Medical Clinic is open from 7:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
NHCC is also dedicated to insuring the individual medical readiness of Charleston’s Navy population. The NHCC Readiness Division is available for Periodical Health Assessments, health education, tobacco cessation classes and nutrition counseling for service members and their families. To make an appointment with the Wellness/Readiness Division, call (843) 574-8935.
Naval Health Clinic Charleston Dental Clinic
110 NNPTC Circle
Naval Weapons Station
Appointments: (843) 764-7944
Hours of Operation:
6:45 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday-Thursday
6:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Friday
The NHCC Dental Clinic provides dental services to military members at the Naval Weapons Station and its tenant commands. Family members are encouraged to enroll in the TRICARE Family Member Dental Plan and use the benefits with this insurance coverage. Family members can review benefits and obtain information at www.ucci.com. Unlike TRICARE medical care, service members are required to pay a monthly premium for family members’ dental care.
For questions regarding dental plans, locating a dentist, or requesting an enrollment packet, call United Concordia at 1-800-866-8499 Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Please have the following information ready when you call: Sponsor’s name and Social Security Number, and family members’ names and birth dates. Information on the dental plan is also available from a Health Benefits Advisor who can be contacted at 763-7600 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Emergency and After-Hour Care - The NHCC and BMC do not provide life-threatening emergency care or inpatient care. If you have a true emergency (threat to life, limb or sight), call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Emergency care does not require advance authorization; however, the sponsor or a family member must contact the Primary Care Manager the next day.
After-hours urgent care requires prior authorization from a Primary Care Manager. Urgent care services are those medically necessary services which are required to treat illness or injury within 24 hours to prevent a severe consequence from developing. Urgent care conditions include, but are not limited to sprains, sore throat, or rising temperature. In an urgent care situation, a PCM can be reached by calling 743-7000. The PCM will call back to discuss the medical situation and provide guidance regarding care.
Appointments - Appointments for both NHCC on Rivers Avenue and the BMC at the Naval Weapons Station can be made by calling Central Appointments at (843) 743-3709 or going on-line at: www.tricareonline.com. Please show up 15 minutes prior to the designated time of your appointment and present your ID at the check-in desk.
TRICARE – A part of the Department of Defense’s health benefits program, TRICARE is a regionally managed health care program for active duty and retired members of the uniformed services, their families, and survivors. To learn more about TRICARE, visit your local TRICARE Service Center at NHCC. Hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A toll-free number for TRICARE’s South Region is 1-800-444-5445. TRICARE Prime beneficiaries can contact their Primary Care Manager 24 hours a day from anywhere in the United States by calling toll free (888) 264-3709.
Pharmacy – The NHCC pharmacy is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday except on Wednesdays when it operates from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed weekends and federal holidays. The NHCC BMC pharmacy is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. It is closed weekends and federal holidays.
First time prescriptions from civilian doctors will be filled only at the NHCC location on Rivers Avenue. Refills can then be requested at both locations by calling the 24/7 pharmacy refill line at 743-76170, Refills should be requested one week before the prescription runs out. Callers will need to provide the prescription number and the last four digits of the sponsor’s Social Security Number. While both pharmacies are well-stocked, not all medications are available. You can call 743-7164 to see if your medication is available.
Medication counseling is available by appointment by calling
743-7164. This counseling is appropriate for patients with questions or concerns about their medications.
All patients 10 years of age and older must present a valid military ID card to pick up medications. If picking up medication(s) for patients over the age of 16, a person must have a valid military ID; must be in possession of the patient’s Military ID (or photocopy of the front and back), and have a signed statement from the patient (or patient’s legal guardian) authorizing the representative to act on the patient’s behalf.
Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinators (Health Benefits Advisors) – Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinators (BCACs), also called Health Benefits Advisors (HBAs) are specialists at Military Treatment Facilities, trained to give advice and assist TRICARE eligible beneficiaries concerning military medical benefits. They assist the beneficiary in selecting the appropriate TRICARE medical plan that best suits their
family needs.
The BCACs are available to discuss all TRICARE options available to the beneficiary and related costs. Programs covered can include TRICARE Prime, Extra, or Standard, TRICARE PLUS, TRICARE for Life, TRICARE Reserve Select program and TRICARE Dental Program, Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Administration, and Group Health Insurance.
BCACs are available at NHCC from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday-Friday for walk-in assistance. They can also be reached at (843) 743-7600 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for telephone assistance. A Health Benefits Advisor is available at the Branch Medical Clinic in the Wellness Clinic from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. for walk-in assistance or by calling (843) 574-8913.
The Naval Weapons Station Charleston Newcomers' Guide is published by Benchmark Publications Incorporated, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Navy, under exclusive written contract with Naval Weapons Station Charleston. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Navy or Benchmark Publications, Incorporated of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Naval Weapons Station Charleston Newcomers' Guide is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-81. Editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston. All photos are provided by the Public Affairs Office unless stated otherwise.
