Policies

We are fully accredited by The Joint Commission, the nation's largest and oldest accrediting body in health care.  Please visit The Joint Commission website at www.qualitycheck.org for information on our accreditation and performance.  If you have compliments or concerns, we encourage you to contact Patient Relations at (843) 794-6033 or the department manager of the clinic where you received care.  If you believe your concerns about patient safety or quality remain unresolved, you may report them to The Joint Commission (Office of Quality and Patient Safety), One Renaissance Blvd., Oakbrook Terrace, IL, 60181, at www.JointCommission.org, or by fax (630) 792-5636.

The clinic's information desk is staffed during normal clinic business hours and provides general information at (843) 794-6000.  Medical information is protected by federal law (1974 Privacy Act and 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA), so staff cannot provide patient information.

An appointment missed by you is an appointment missed by two.  To reschedule or cancel an appointment, please call ahead.  (We recommend 24 hours in advance.)  This allows us to give your time slot to another patient who needs care.

Military medical records are, by law, the property of the U.S. government and must remain in our facilities at all times.  You may request a copy of your medical record or have your record transferred.  Please allow two to three weeks for copies.  If you’re separating or retiring, please allow six to eight weeks.  If you’d like your spouse (or other adult family member) to be able to pick up a copy of your medical records, you can provide us with written authorization.

Medical Records: (843) 794-6050.

Children under 18 usually can’t be treated without parental consent.  Parents can also designate a third party to give consent (this is especially important for single, active duty parents).  Please fill out an Authorization for Medical Care form at Outpatient Medical Records. All children age 10 and over need a military ID card (which can be obtained from PSD) to get treatment.  Minor children (regardless of their age) who don’t live with their military sponsor need to have an up-to-date military ID card, and need their sponsor to keep their DEERS information current. We ask that adults (who have an appointment for themselves) not bring children who need supervision.  The base Child Development Center and School Age Care programs are resources.

We’re accredited and recognized by the same organizations as private-sector hospitals -- such as The Joint Commission.  We participate in national patient safety programs -- like TeamSTEPPS and National Patient Safety Goals.  Our local initiatives include  safety briefs, Quality Council, leadership rounds, and robust process improvement projects.  We monitor and take action on potential risks, using a patient safety reporting system. The single most important thing you can do is to be an active member of your care team.

Speak Up - Pay attention. If something doesn’t seem right, alert your care team. Ask questions anytime you don’t understand.

Know Your Medicines Know what medicines you take. Make sure your doctors know too. If you take more than three medicines, you should keep a list of current medications in your purse or wallet.

Know Your Test Results  If you’ve had a test (like a Pap or blood test), don’t assume “no news is good news.”  Call and ask. Involve a Family Member or Friend If you’d like someone to be your advocate, ask a family member or friend.   They can come with you, ask questions, and write down instructions. 

Outpatient Minor Procedures Make sure that you, your doctor, the nurses, and staff all agree on: your name and birth date, what procedure is being done, and where on your body the procedure is being performed. 

Your Clinic Visit  Ask everyone who comes into your room to sanitize or wash their hands, if you don't see them do it.  Expect staff to introduce themselves.  You can also check their security badges.  

In support of the health of all patients, we proudly offer smoke-free environments.  There’s no smoking anywhere at our facilities:  parking lots, grounds, sidewalks, atriums, or inside.  Our Wellness Center / Health Promotions stands ready to help you quit; please call us!