Health Care

The Branch Health Clinic (BHC) provides primary care and dental care services. Routine primary care appointments are available for active duty and active-duty family members. Dental care appointments are for active duty service members only – active-duty family members may be seen at the discretion of the clinic. Retirees, retiree family members and Department of Defense civilians may utilize these services on a space-available basis. Please contact the Branch Health Clinic for further information.

Emergency Services (Base, Nimitz Park, Dragon Vale, Fiddlers Green, and Hario Housing):
Ambulance (from DSN): 911
Ambulance (from cell): 0956-50-0911
US cell: 011-81-956-50-0911

For non emergency care

Call BHC Appointment Line 0730-1600

Medical appointments – DSN: 252-3624,  
Japanese cell: 0956-50-3624,  U.S cell: 011-81-956-50-3624 

 Dental appointments – DSN: 252-3747, Japanese cell: 0956-50-3747,  U.S. cell:  011-81-956-50-3747

When you move, TRICARE moves with you. No matter where you go in the world, TRICARE is there before, during and when you get to your next duty station.

There are steps you need to take to make sure changes to your TRICARE coverage go smoothly. Understand that when you move, you may have to use a different TRICARE option. Visit TRICARE Moving to learn more.

Before you move, you should take care of any routine medical needs, including immunizations, and fill your prescriptions so you have enough while traveling. If you need care during your move, visit TRICARE Getting Care When Traveling to learn what to do.

Filling prescriptions while traveling

You should refill prescriptions before traveling. But if you run out of a prescription drug while traveling, visit TRICARE Filling Prescriptions When Traveling.

Getting dental care while traveling

Getting dental care while traveling depends on your location and whether you are a service member or family member.

• If you are an active-duty service member within the United States or in U.S. territories, and near a military installation, you may be able to get emergency dental care at the dental treatment facility, or DTF, if available. If not, contact the TRICARE Active Duty Dental Care Program before you see a dentist and tell the contractor about your move. You will need to get an authorization before you see a dentist. The Active Duty Dental Care Program will work with you, so you can get care from a local network dentist.
• If you are an active-duty service member at an overseas location, call the TRICARE overseas regional call center to get authorization before you see a civilian dentist.
• If you are an active-duty family member within the United States, in U.S. territories or at an overseas location, you can find out if any nearby military dental treatment facility treats active-duty family members. If you're enrolled in the TRICARE dental program, call the TRICARE dental program contractor or visit their website to find a provider. You will need to get an authorization before you see the dentist.

With permanent change of station orders, ask for a copy of your medical and dental records from your military treatment facility and the dental treatment facility. Do this at least one month before your PCS date. The MTF should also transfer a copy of your record and any family records to your new duty station or you may be able to hand carry them to your new duty station.

If you want someone else to be able to get medical or dental information on you or your family while you are moving, you need to complete a DD Form 2870, "Authorization for Disclosure of Medical or Dental Information."

For more information on getting copies of medical records, visit TRICARE Request Copies of Medical Records.

Available Services

The Naval Branch Health Clinic Sasebo provides primary care and dental care services. Routine appointments are available for active duty and active-duty family members* (active-duty family members by discretion of the clinic*). Retirees, retiree family members and Department of Defense civilians may be eligible for services on a space-available basis. Call 315-252-3624 to make an appointment.

Examples of routine care include:

• Physical exams and well baby checks
• Coughs, colds and low fevers
• Medication refills
• Dental exams and cleanings
• Dental fillings

Specialty Care

There are no full-time health care specialists assigned to the clinic, although specialists from Naval Hospital Yokosuka occasionally travel to Sasebo to provide limited services. Patients requiring specialty services who cannot wait for visiting providers will be referred to a local Japanese specialist or medivaced to a military facility in Japan or the United States.

Urgent Care

A medical provider and nurse are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist patients with urgent medical needs. Call the clinic at 315-252-2551 to speak to a nurse. The on-call nurse will assess the patient's symptoms and provide advice on the course of action to ensure proper treatment. This may include home care, an appointment with a provider or contacting emergency transport to a Japanese hospital.

Examples of urgent care include:

• Broken bones
• Minor cuts or burns
• Fever of 104 degrees or higher (100.4 for newborns)
• Sprains or strains
• Eye injuries
• Dental swelling, pain or trauma

Emergency Care

There is no emergency room at the Main Base or at the Hario clinics. Emergency response and transportation via ambulance is available for patients seeking emergency care on the Main Base and Hario. Japanese ambulances respond to all off-base emergencies. Emergency care is provided by local Japanese hospitals. Call 911 on base or 0956-50-0911 off base for emergencies.

Examples of emergency care include:

• Chest pain
• Severe abdominal pain
• Difficulty breathing and/or shortness of breath
• Deep cuts or bleeding that will not stop
• Severe burns
• Sudden blurred vision
• Sudden severe headaches
• Coughing or vomiting blood

Our family practice providers are trained to handle the vast medical needs of both children and adults. Independent duty corpsmen provide basic medical care to the active-duty population. Routine appointments are available for active duty and active-duty family members.

Dental Care

The Main Base clinic provides dental care services to active duty only and to active-duty family members under certain circumstances.   Call DSN 315-252-3747 to make an appointment.