As Men’s Health Month is observed in June, we ask Naval Medical Center San Diego’s (NMCSD) lead prosthetist what Men’s Health represents for him.

The transition of Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) into the Military Health System (MHS) offers modernization and innovation opportunities in the delivery of health care. One such area NMCSD is embarking on is an effort to adopt and promote best practices in appointing services.

During some medical crises a healthcare professional may also end up being a patient at the facility that they serve at. For Naval Medical Center San Diego’s (NMCSD) Chief Hospital Corpsman Charlene Green, that is exactly what transpired for her during the recent holiday period. Green, who serves as one of NMCSD’s Laboratory Department divisional leading chief petty officers, and who is a native from Brooklyn, New York, oversees all aspects of operation of the hospital’s advanced laboratory department — to include its blood related divisions.

The basketball court at Naval Medical Center San Diego’s (NMCSD) gym was converted to a test center as more than 130 first class petty officers were administered the FY 2024 Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Advancement Exam, 18 Jan. Off to the side as you entered the court is a table packed with cell phones while their rightful owners are taking the exam. You could hear the phones’ murmurs placed to their lowest setting permitted for some, while others depleted their battery as they vibrated.

A message to West Region TRICARE beneficiaries from the Defense Health Agency Director.

A new TRICARE Dental Program contract will bring changes and improvements starting March 1. United Concordia will continue to administer the TDP. However, they’ll offer new services and lower costs for many members. If you have TDP coverage, you'll see these changes in your February bill for coverage effective March 1.

Are you enrolled in TRICARE Prime? You should know that the Defense Health Agency has waived the requirement to obtain approval for referrals to outpatient specialty care for TRICARE Prime enrollees in the West region. This means TRICARE-authorized specialty care providers don’t need to wait for TriWest to approve referrals issued by your primary care manager before providing outpatient care. However, you’ll still need to get a referral from your Primary Care Manager before getting that specialty care. This process will be in place through March 31 and is retroactive to January 1, 2025.

On April 1, the TRICARE Online Patient Portal will no longer be available. The Department of Defense’s new electronic health record—MHS GENESIS—has replaced the TOL Patient Portal. If you want to keep a copy of your legacy health records for personal use, you must download them from the TOL Patient Portal before April 1.