Health Care

Base services include family health, mental health, dental, lab, pharmacy and X-ray. Patients are seen by appointment only; there is no sick call, urgent or emergency care at the U.S. clinic. However, access to care is great and most patients can be seen the same day or the next day.

Patients requiring evaluation or treatment beyond the capability of the clinic are referred to the 2nd General Army Hospital, Landstuhl, Germany; Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, The Netherlands; Zuyderland Medical Center Brunssum,
The Netherlands; Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, Geilenkirchen, Germany; Heinsberg Hospital, Germany; or another local facility.

TRICARE Prime covers l00% in Europe. Family members are frequently referred for health care to local civilian communities to English-speaking providers.

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.

Medical Care

Welcome to the 852nd Medical Squadron and to Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany. We are often referred to as the "GK Clinic". Our motto--"Our Family Taking Care of Your Family" truly is our number one goal. During your stay here at GK, it is our hope that you remain healthy. If, however, you fall ill, we are ready to assist you in regaining your well-being. The clinic provides Outpatient Care in the areas of:

• Family Practice
• Flight Medicine
• Allergy/Immunizations
• Behavioral Health
• Dental
• Pharmacy

The 852nd Medical Squadron is not a 24-hour facility. The Clinic is closed on all NATO E-3A Component Holidays and open on most American holidays.

Family members are frequently referred for health care in the local civilian communities to English speaking providers. Patients requiring evaluation or treatment beyond the capability of the Clinic are referred to local providers or a USAF Hospital.

Emergency Services

There is no emergency room or specialty care available at the clinic. Personnel must use the German or Dutch emergency medical system. TRICARE Prime covers l00% in Europe; however, in the case of a non-emergency, individuals must contact International SOS for an authorization prior to seeking medical care. Please refer to the 852 MS Medical Flight Quick Guide or the FAQ page for guidance, local facilities, and other important information..

Special Needs

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) identifies family members with special needs or educational needs, and ensures that these needs are being met. It also ensures you will not be assigned where these needs cannot be met. If you have an exceptional family member, contact the EFMP office to ensure needed services are available. If you are currently enrolled in a special needs program, work closely with the current base. Services are limited here.

Optometry Services

Although the Geilenkirchen clinic does not offer in-house optometry services, an optometrist from Spangdahlem Air Base visits the clinic semi annually to see active duty members. Dependents will utilize off-base optometry services. Tricare reimburses dependents for their annual eye exam appointment. For more questions about Tricare, Geilenkirchen Air Base patients can call +011-49-2451-99-3400.

Dental Services

Dental services are provided at the US Dental Clinic. Service members and dependents are entitled to one dental cleaning per year at the clinic. There is no sedation dentistry available at Geilenkirchen Air Base for children, so if your child has dental anxiety or other special needs they will be seen on the economy or referred to another military treatment facility.

Health Records

The health records of all service members and their family members are the property of the US Government. You are required to maintain your records in a military treatment facility. If a record is not in a military facility, there is no way to ensure all of the important paperwork (i.e. lab slips, consults, results from civilian medical care, etc) is placed in your record. This omission could present a serious health risk.

All health records are considered privileged information, therefore, no information will be released without your written consent. Without written consent, you cannot pick up your spouse's record for an appointment. The best way to avoid this situation is to sign a consent letter, which is available in Outpatient Records, which gives your spouse the right to pick up your medical record.