USAG Italy  Health

The new U.S. Army health center in Vicenza serves only active-duty soldiers and family beneficiaries. Primary care is available in the Vicenza Health Center for immediate and routine care for appointed patients. Dental services are only available on-post for Service Members at this time. Family members and retirees may seek dental care both on-post (space available) and off-post.

The Vicenza Health Center does not have an emergency room on site. However, emergency care and outpatient consultation is available at the local Italian hospital in San Bortolo. Bilingual patient liaison coordinators are available to assist active-duty and active-duty family members daily up until 2100 hours. After 2100 hours call the International SOS Translation Assistance Line at 800 915 994 for further assistance; this number can be called from any landline.   

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

The U.S. Army Health Center, Vicenza, serves active-duty soldiers and family members. Primary care is available in the Vicenza Health Center for immediate and routine care for appointed patients. All enrolled beneficiaries with major medical illnesses or major surgical requirements will be referred to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany or other medical centers in the United States.

Medical services include:

• Active-Duty physical examinations
• Behavioral Health Services: Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work
• Community Health Nurse
• Dermatology
• Educational & Developmental Intervention Services
• Immunization and Allergy Services
• Interpreter services and the Patient Liaison Coordinator Program
• Laboratory
• Occupational Health
• Optometry
• Pharmacy
• Rehabilitation Services: Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy
• Primary care: Family Medicine, Pediatrics 
• Radiology: Digital x-ray
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Services

The health center does not have an emergency room, but is capable of treating acute minor illnesses, lacerations and follow-up screening after discharge from the local Italian hospital.

Emergency Care

Emergency care and all after-hours care is handled by the Ospedale San Bortolo, a 900-bed medical center located approximately 10 minutes from post in the city of Vicenza. Because there are minor cultural differences in the delivery of care, a patient liaison or interpreter service is available 365 days a year from 0700 until 2100 hours at San Bortolo hospital to facilitate communication for American patients. Patient liaison coordinator interpreter service are available by telephone off-post at 0444-75-9257 or DSN 314-636-9257. If language assistance is required after 2100 hours use any landline to call the International SOS Translation Assistance Line at 800 915 994 (available 24/7).

To request assistance in a true medical emergency, the requester should dial 99 118 from on post or 118 from off-post for an ambulance or, if the patient is able to be moved by privately-owned vehicle the patient should go directly to the pronto soccorso, or emergency room, at San Bortolo Hospital in Vicenza.

Dental Care

The Vicenza Dental Clinic offers routine dental care, pediatric, endodontic and limited orthodontic care. The remaining dental specialties are provided through consultation and coordination with other European dental treatment facilities.

A dentist is always on call outside of duty hours. Emergency dental care is provided for trauma, bleeding and swelling. To access emergency dental care, contact by phone or go in person to the military personnel desk in Building 4-B or call 0444-71-7626 or DSN 314-634-7626.

Availability and Entitlement

Active-duty personnel are required to receive an annual dental examination and maintain an acceptable dental fitness status. Other than active-duty personnel will receive space-available care only.

Community Resources

Check with your health benefits advisor in the health clinic at Building 2310 for the latest information on TRICARE.