ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Patient appointment hours at the Ellsworth Air Force Base primary care clinic are expanding until 4:30 p.m., effective Sep. 1, 2017.
Clinics affected include Family Health and Flight Medicine. These new hours are intended to increase timely access to care.
Primary care appointments will now be available from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Other services, such as pharmacy, laboratory and radiology will be adjusted to accommodate the new patient care hours.
Clinic doors will open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m., but medical staff will be available, as needed, to ensure availability of ancillary services for patient care requirements, to complete necessary documents, and to prepare for the following day’s appointments.
Patients can book an appointment online using the TRICARE Online Patient Portal or by calling the clinic at (605) 385-6700.
“Adjusting our clinic hours is part of our commitment to provide timely access to care for all our patients,” said Col. Dave Linkh, commander of the 28th Medical Group. “Pushing available appointments out to 4:30 p.m. is an example of Trusted Care in action. It will increase appointment availability and access for our beneficiaries, and make us more efficient and patient-centered.”
Providing more appointment availability will require changes; the Lab will open at 7:30 a.m. and the appointment line will accept calls from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Changes to the 28th Medical Group house can be viewed at http://www.ellsworth.af.mil/Unit/Medical-Group-Services/ and on Facebook @28thMedicalGroup. You can also download the Air Force Medical Service mobile app for your smart phone, which can show your local clinic hours. Visit your smartphone’s app store and search for “AFMS” to download.