Fisher House and William Beaumont Army Medical Center.
Health Care
Note: The expected influx of troops and families may mean some changes to information and phone numbers in this guide.
William Beaumont Army Medical Center provides comprehensive, cost effective and customer focused healthcare as part of a fully integrated health system for the Fort Bliss community beneficiaries and combat ready Soldiers. WBAMC is also a major teaching hospital and a regional trauma center during peace and war.
It symbolizes the latest advancements in military medicine in the Southwest. The research done at William Beaumont Army Medical Center will enable healthcare providers and policy advisors to make changes that will not only improve the delivery of health care today, but in future generations.
The striking glass and concrete tower standing at the base of the Franklin Mountains is far removed from the humble beginnings of Army medicine in the El Paso area. The medical center’s roots can be traced as far back as the mid-1850s when Army surgeons were first assigned to treat Soldiers stationed on the Rio Grande. The muddy and unpurified river water was, in fact, the cause of many ailments treated by those early physicians.
The antiquated medical treatment facilities, in operation until 1916, were found at various locations until they were centralized in Bldg. 1 of the present Fort Bliss. On July 1, 1920, William Beaumont General Hospital was opened, covering more than 270 acres in the area now bordered by Dyer and Piedras Streets on the east and west, and Fred Wilson Road and Hayes Street on the north and south.
Beaumont General Hospital was named in honor of Capt. (Dr.) William Beaumont, an Army physician who served during the War of 1812. Dr. Beaumont became known for his extensive studies, experiments, and observations associated with human digestion. His opportunity for research came in 1822 when he treated a fur trapper, Alexis St. Martin, for a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Although, amazingly, St. Martin lived a long and near-normal life, his wound healed as a fiscule. Dr. Beaumont treated his patient, and over several years observed through the wound body functions and stomach processes. His works were highly regarded and were among the first scientific observations of digestive functions.
Beaumont General Hospital largely focused treatment on local patients until World War II, when incoming casualties boosted the patient count to more than 6,000. The expansion of facilities to accommodate wounded Soldiers returning from war included patient treatment areas on Fort Bliss and Biggs Army Airfield.
After World War II, Beaumont continued to expand its role in Army medicine. In 1972, the present 12-story medical center building opened. Encompassing over one-half million square feet, the structure houses many departments and clinics that provide a full range of treatment and training capabilities.
In 1973, the hospital became William Beaumont Army Medical Center, aligned under the Army’s Health Services Command, which became the U.S. Army Medical Command in 1994. The medical center is responsible for medical treatment to all military services in Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas. Health care is routinely provided for patients transferred from other southwestern military installations such as Fort Huachuca, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Luke AFB, Williams AFB – all in Arizona, Cannon AFB, Holloman AFB, Kirtland AFB – all in New Mexico, and other continental U.S. and overseas hospitals.
The Omar N. Bradley Building, an addition to the west side of the main medical center building, was opened in 1984 and provides an additional 120,000 square feet of space. In November 1995, the hospital became one of the largest buildings in El Paso with the addition of the El Paso Veterans Affairs Health Care System.
In addition to the medical center proper, health care is provided at the Soldier Family and Medical Clinic, dental clinics and Rocky Mountain Veterinary Treatment Facility Fort Bliss.
The McAfee Army Health Clinic is operated at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The clinic provides safe and effective medical support to all activities at White Sands Missile Range.
Old William Beaumont Army Medical Center.
While the nation’s Army has progressed from the 19th century to the 21st century, military medicine in El Paso has kept pace. Today, William Beaumont Army Medical Center can be counted among the best of military medical treatment facilities.
Operations
William Beaumont is a full-service facility, providing both inpatient and outpatient care. The normal daily inpatient operating capacity is 100 beds. And, in an average day more than 1,350 people visit the outpatient clinics.
The first line of medical care for active duty Soldiers is the appropriate unit aid station and then the Soldier and Family Medical Clinic located in Bldg. 2496 on Fort Bliss. For more information call 568-3088.
Active soldiers assigned to WBAMC as their duty station must call 569-3002.
Soldier and Family Medical Clinic
The Soldier and Family Medical Clinic provides primary medical care to the entire Fort Bliss military community. The population served includes all active duty servicemembers and their families as well as deploying and redeploying troops. It is located in building 2496 on Ricker Road.
The SFMC provides comprehensive appointment based outpatient care services which include: pharmacy, laboratory, X-ray, active duty physicals, immunizations, physical therapy, community mental health, preventative medicine, community health, the Wellness Center and hearing conservation. Additionally, providers evaluate and treat adult and pediatric acute minor illness and chronic stable conditions, minor orthopedic conditions/injuries, and sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Our providers also perform minor surgeries and procedures and provide well child, well woman and routine gynecology and obstetrics care.
The SFMC provides quality primary medical care to all active-duty Soldiers and their family members at Fort Bliss. Active duty Soldiers and their family members are assigned (empanelled) to a physician, nurse practitioner or physicians assistant who is a primary care manager. This PCM is a member of a team of providers and support staff who are there to provide continuity of care in the event that their provider/PCM is unavailable.
Active duty physicals
Active duty physicals consist of part I and part II. Part I of the physical process is on a walk-in basis. Part II (the exam) is done after part I is complete and is available by appointment only. For information regarding all physical exams or flight physicals, or to make your appointment, call 568-1719. The Active Duty Immunization Clinic is open on a walk-in basis.
Ambulance
William Beaumont Army Medical Center provides emergency ambulance services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This service is provided to all emergencies within a six-minute response time from William Beaumont. All emergency calls outside of the six-minute factor will be directly transferred to an El Paso ambulance service. Call 569-2331 to activate the hospital’s emergency ambulance.
Emergency Care
Emergency medical care is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the hospital’s emergency department. The emergency medical service is located on the third floor of the hospital, across from the information desk. This care is reserved for medical emergencies and should not be used for routine medical care. For non-emergency care, call the Tel-A-Nurse line at 569-4444 or the patient appointment system at 569-CARE (2273).
Pediatric Clinic
The Pediatric clinic is located on the third floor Main Hospital. The Exceptional Family Member program (located on the third floor, Bradley Building) provides screening and counseling, as well as the EFMP briefing.
Other appointments available in the clinic include adolescent/gynecology, Depo-Provera injections, asthma education, and routine and sports physical examination.
Appointments are available to subspecialty clinics with a consult from the pediatrician. All visits are scheduled appointments through the Patient Appointment Center at 569-CARE (2273). Other questions may be directed to the clinic at 569-2507.
Parents hold their newborn twins in the WBAMC Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic.
Tel-A-Nurse
Tel-A-Nurse is WBAMC’s continuing commitment for quality health care to our beneficiaries. Professional nurses utilize computerized protocols approved by physicians at WBAMC to assist patients with their healthcare needs. Nurses will discuss health problems and concerns with the caller by asking questions regarding health history and the current problem to select the appropriate course of action or level of care.
Recommendations for care may range from activation of the 9-1-1 system to detailed information on how to take care of yourself or the patient at home.
The call is confidential and handled professionally. When the line is busy or callers are unable to wait on the line, they may leave a voice message and a professional nurse will return the call within 90 minutes.
Direct phone lines to the Tel-A-Nurse are located near the hospital Emergency Room and Ortho Clinic, or you may call from your home or other place of convenience.
Tel-A-Nurse can be reached at 569-4444.
Pharmacy Services
The main Outpatient Pharmacy is located on the third floor of the medical center.
Currently, the main Outpatient Pharmacy fills approximately 3,000 prescriptions daily and has eight dispensing windows, each specifically designed to more closely match the individual needs of patients. Active duty Soldiers and family members assigned to Family Practice at the Soldier and Family Medical Clinic may have their prescriptions filled in the SFMC. For more information, call 568-1802.
The Refill Pharmacy, located in the main Post Exchange complex, was designed to make prescription refill pick-up more convenient for patients, while simultaneously relieving congestion at the main Outpatient Pharmacy in the medical center.
Refills are only processed through our phone-in refill prescription line or through the WBAMC Internet webpage. Dial 569-1200 or 1-800-916-3580 to utilize the phone-in service. Patients calling the service will hear a recorded message with instructions on how to use the service. After entering the prescription number, the system will give confirmation and inform patients when refills will be ready for pick-up. The WBAMC web page can be found at www.wbamc.amedd.army.mil (follow the links for “Online Services” then “Online Pharmacy”).
The phone-in and online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Patients are asked to allow two work-days for the filling of the refills. Refills must be picked up within five days after the date the system informs a patient that medication will be ready for pick-up. A Help Line has been set up for patients who are having difficulties refilling their prescriptions or who need information in regard to their prescriptions. For more information, call 569-2793.
Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinic
The OB/GYN Clinic provides comprehensive care for women with obstetric and gynecologic illnesses. This includes evaluation for conditions unique to gynecology requiring more specialized medical treatment and surgical intervention.
The gynecologic section of the clinic is a specialty clinic only. This means that patients must have a consult from their primary care provider to be seen. The primary care providers will perform annual well-women exams.
Certified nurse midwives, certified nurse practitioners, and physicians will follow all OB patients in the OB/GYN clinic. After the initial OB visit with a CNM, CNP, patients with high-risk parameters will see the OB/GYN Physicians.
All gynecologic appointments are made through central appointments at 569-CARE (2237) after a referral is received from the primary care provider.
Health Promotion Service and the Wellness Centers
Health Promotion Service is a part of the Department of Preventive Medicine and provides information to Soldiers and families on health care and health promotion. The wellness centers are located in the Soldier and Family Medical Clinic, building 2494, and the Welcome Center, building 505. The chief of health promotion is located in building 7304, room 206.
The health promotion service facilitates health care and health education between patients and providers. They also provide health risk and evaluation services, communicable disease intervention, and a variety of health promotion classes and seminars. Self- help classes are offered to all active and TRICARE beneficiaries. Attending one of the classes will facilitate in getting over-the-counter drugs.
For more information on classes, schedules, programs and appointments call the Fort Bliss Wellness Center at 568-1869 or the Wellness Center at the Welcome Center at 569-3311. Information on health promotion programs and services is also found on the Internet at the WBAMC web site at www.wbamc.amedd.army.mil under Preven-tion/Wellness.
TRICARE Service Center
The TRICARE service center is on the first floor of William Beaumont Army Medical Center, building 7777, room 1192.
Customer service representatives are available to provide assistance with locating civilian providers who accept TRICARE Standard and Extra and to answer questions about TRICARE Prime enrollment, authorizations for specialty care in the network, and claim issues.
Services are provided on a walk-in basis. Appointments are not required.
TRICARE Customer Assistance Center
The TRICARE customer assistance center is in the Welcome Center on Fort Bliss, building 505, room 106.
Customer service representatives are available to provide assistance with locating civilian providers who accept TRICARE Standard and Extra and to answer questions about TRICARE Prime enrollment, authorizations for specialty care in the network, and claim issues.
Services are provided on a walk-in basis. Appointments are not required.
WBAMC’s Department of Pathology and Area Laboratory Services has become the first medical facility in the Department of the Army to have a fully-automated core lab.
TRICARE Automated Health Information Library
The Triwest 24-Hour Health Information library is an automated system that offers information on more than 2,500 health related issues. The information provided by this system is not intended to be used as a diagnostic tool, but to increase awareness and knowledge. It is available seven days a week and 24 hours a day. It can be accessed by calling 1-888-688-4019 and entering pin number 746.
“Healthwise Knowledgebase” is a web-based program on the WBAMC homepage. It provides easy to understand information on multiple health topics. This information is available in English and Spanish. You can access Healthwise by typing in the following address: www. wbamc.amedd.army.mil.
Fisher House
The Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher House at William Beaumont Army Medical Center is a two-story, 5,000 square-feet house located east of Beaumont and is within walking distance of the hospital. The house has two bed rooms, a 16-person capacity dining room, a large family room that is amply supplied with books, videos, and stuffed animals for young children. The fully equipped kitchen is supplied with pots, pans, dishes and other cooking utensils. All rooms have private telephone lines with connections for laptop computers. There is a $10 a day fee for occupancy.
A Fisher House™ is "a home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and Veterans Affairs medical centers. It is a temporary residence, not a treatment facility, hospice or counseling center. Each house is designed to provide eight to 21 suites, all professionally furnished and decorated in the tone and style of the local region. The houses can accommodate 16 to 42 family members.
Veterinary Treatment Facility
Pets are required to be registered within three working days of arrival or acquisition at the post veterinary clinic, located in building 6077, Carter Road. Both dogs and cats must be immunized according to U.S. Army Regulation 40-905. The owner will be provided a registration/immunization tag to be attached to the animal’s collar. The collar and tag must be worn at all times when the animal is outside the quarters. The registration requirement does not apply to caged small animals, birds and fish.
At no time are pets are to be left unattended. They are not to be left in vehicles during warm weather or secured to trees/shrubbery so as to not cause damage to government property. Pets are to be provided adequate water, food, and shelter.
When taken from government quarters, dogs must be kept on a leash that does not exceed six feet in length. Injured, loose, or stray animals will be captured and impounded at the post veterinary clinic. Animal control will investigate all incidents of suspected abuse, mistreatment or neglect of animals. For more information, see Fort Bliss Regulation 190-4, or contact the military police at 568-2115 or 568-2116.
Call 569-2266 for veterinary information. Adoption programs are located within the community at the city pound, humane society and Pet Smart. See the city directory for the numbers.