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                         February 1, 2002

KELLER CORNER

A weekly column of informative one-line tips provided by the Keller Army Community Hospital organizations. Questions regarding information that appears in this section should be directed to Mary-Patrice Ruocco at 938-4835.

 ...The best time to call Sierra to make an appointment at Keller does not fall on a Monday or Tuesday morning? Those are Sierra’s peak volume times! You will reduce your "hold time" if you call 888-999-5195 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. We can almost guarantee you no "hold time" if you call Sierra on Saturday.

 ...Did you know that a comprehensive eye examination every two years is a preventive service benefit for TRICARE Prime enrollees between the ages of 3 and 64? Diabetic patients of any age should have an eye exam every year. No referral is needed for you to take advantage of this benefit by calling Sierra to book an appointment at the optometry clinic in bldg. 606.

 ... There is currently a shortage of many vaccines. Some of them have only one pharmaceutical manufacturer as the source, so when that source is backordered, there is no alternate. In addition, some vaccines are being reserved for deploying military units. The vaccines in short supply are Hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps and rubella, chickenpox, diptheria, tetanus and pertusis and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. As vaccines become available, you will be informed so you can keep yourself and your family members fully immunized.

 . . .KACH will be closed Feb. 18. All outpatient clinics, including pharmacy, pathology and radiology will be closed. The emergency room remains open.