Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Dilorenzo Tricare Health Clinic > Home
 

 Content Editor ‭[2]‬

 
 

 Content Editor ‭[1]‬

 
Fort Belvoir


 
 

 Featured Links

 
​MCL.pngFor Suicide Prevention Lifeline, click Here or call 1-800-273-8255

In case of an emergency (e.g. imminent risk for suicide or homicide), please call 911 or report to the nearest emergency room.
 
For more information on emergency mental health services, click here to visit the TRICARE Mental Health Emergency Services website.
org_line.png
Untitled.png
 org_line.png
SecureMessaging.png
org_line.pngICE.png
org_line.png
DTHC Patient Advocate2.jpg
org_line.png
DiscussionGuide.jpg
org_line.png
tol_patient_portal_logo.png
org_line.png
nurse advice line.jpg
org_line.pnguc1.png
org_line.png 
 

 Upcoming Events

 
 

 Announcements

 
Mental health, or psychological health, encompasses the well-being of mind, body and spirit, and contributes to overall health and resilience. Concerns affecting the functioning, readiness and optimal health of our nation’s returning service members and their families (i.e., adjustment, depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and substance misuse) have caused military leadership to search for answers to improve understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
 
Newsroom__MentalHealth_MAY2019.png

In May, the Military Health System, as well as agencies and leaders across the Department of Defense (DoD) are emphasizing the importance of mental health and sharing mental health resources available to our military communities.
 
Mental Health Resources:
SeparatorLine1.gif 

TRICARE Urgent Care Pilot Program

 
Are you enrolled in TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote or TRICARE Young Adult-Prime in the United States?
 
If so, you may be able to participate in the new Urgent Care Pilot Program.
 
 

 DTHC

 
​
PCMH_NCQA_LevelIII.png 

 

SeparatorLine1.gif 

Welcome to Fall so that means welcome to cold and flu season! 
 
As we have for many years, DiLorenzo TRICARE Health Clinic will again offer flu shots for all of our Pentagon beneficiaries eligible for care.  The annual Pentagon Flu Drive will be held 30 September through 11 October.  The Flu Drive will be between Corridors 8 & 9, First Floor, E ring as it has been in previous years.  Shots will be offered Monday through Friday only (no weekends), from 0800 hours to 1500 hours.  Eligible personnel for the vaccine include:  Active duty members, all Reserve components, Military Retirees, DoD Civilians, Military Dependent ID card holders 18 years & older.  A valid CAC or Military ID card will be required.  DTHC will not provide escorts into the building.  Visit www.dthc.capmed.mil, "Services", "Allergy/Immunization", "Seasonal Flu Information".
 
If you are not able to make it to the Flu Drive, Flu vaccines will remain available FOLLOWING the Flu drive at our Allergy, Immunization and Travel Clinic Monday through Friday from 1300-1500 hours.  I ask that you try to attend the Flu Drive as we have dedicated personnel from the National Capital Region available to assist DTHC with administering nearly 10,000 vaccinations.  Please do not come to the Allergy and Immunization Clinic during the Flu Drive to obtain your flu shot, as you will be asked to go to Corridor 8 and 9.
 
Before I discuss what you can do to protect yourself from the few days of misery that a cold brings and to offer suggestions for treatment, let me explain about how we triage at DTHC.  DTHC does NOT have sick call.  That may surprise some of you but most clinics now opt for appointing and have done away with the long waits that can happen with herd sick calls.  We have an experienced Registered Nurse (RN) who will triage all patients presenting for a walk-in.  Not every patient coming to DTHC will need to see a provider that day.  We have had a few patients complain that they did not get to see a provider but the triage system is in place to allow the best access to care for all patients as there are many conditions that can be handled by the RN in consultation with a provider.  We always strive to keep your wait to a minimum but there are times when delays will occur based on the acuity of patients triaged ahead of you.  We ask that you remain patient and please let our front desk know if you have been waiting for an extended period of time.
 
The common cold  or acute upper respiratory tract infection (URI), is the most common acute illness in the United States.  Your usual symptoms are runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, fatigue and malaise and sometime a low grade fever.  These symptoms are self-limited and often last up to ten days.  Viruses are the predominant cause of the acute URI and transmission occurs through contact with nasal secretions and saliva of infected people.  The primary goal is to reduce the duration and severity of symptoms although preventing the disease is your best defense.  Washing your hands with soap and water or with hand sanitizer is best is the most effective and practical way to prevent URIs.
 
But if you are unfortunate and start getting that classic feeling in your throat and nose, what can you do to treat your symptoms?  Unfortunately, there are only a few things that are proven to be effective and many people will over treat their symptoms  with the risk of side effects due to the medications.  This is especially true with children.  Over the counter analgesics like Motrin and Tylenol, decongestants and zinc have been found to be effective.  There is also some benefit from nasal saline irrigation.  Antibiotics are not effective.  Cough medicines have little benefit in the treatment of cough.
 
So if you do get a cold, wash your hands, cough and sneeze into your elbow, stay home if you can, drink fluids and there is still nothing wrong with chicken soup!  While we always welcome you in the clinic, it would serve you better to self-treat, unless you become severely ill or if your symptoms resolve, and then return or they last for more than 10-14 days and worsen.  If you have fever, severe muscle aches, headache and weakness in addition to cold symptoms, you might have influenza and that may require you to visit us in the clinic.  But get your flu shot to help decrease the chance of contracting influenza!
 
I wish you a safe and healthy Fall season.  Enjoy the changing weather and all the sports, too.
  
“Committed to caring… always”
COL Thomas J. Rogers
Click Here to:
 
 
Facebook.pngTwitter.pngInstagram.png