LESSON 2
OUTPATIENT RECORDS
Section I. CLINICS
2-1.
GENERAL
As a medical specialist, you will probably come into contact with military and
civilian outpatient records while serving in an Army clinic.
2-2.
ARMY CLINICS
An Army clinic is a self-contained operating facility organized for the express
purpose of providing outpatient (ambulatory) health and dental care services to eligible
personnel.
a. United States Army Medical Clinics. United States (US) Army medical clinics
provide ambulatory medical health care services. Medical clinics are assigned to an
appropriate MEDCEN (Medical Center) or MEDDAC (Medical Department Activity).
The three types of US Army medical clinics are discussed below.
(1) United States Army troop medical clinic. A US Army troop medical clinic
(TMC) provides care to active duty military personnel only. The clinic is designed to
accomplish sick call, provide limited medical treatment, and provide referral to an Army
health clinic, dental clinic, or hospital, as needed. The TMC normally provides
immunization, medical examination, physical profiling, and limited pharmacy dispensing
services.
(2) United States Army health clinic. A US Army health clinic ( AHC)
provides ambulatory medical services to personnel authorized care in Army MTF. It
may also provide civilian employee health services. The health clinic normally has
general radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy capabilities and may offer care in one or
more subspecialties of medicine, surgery, and/or psychiatry. Although this clinic is not
designed or staffed to be an inpatient MTF, it may be equipped with beds (normally less
than 25) for observing patients awaiting transfer to a hospital. The beds may also be
used for patients who cannot be cared for on a strictly outpatient basis, but who do not
need to be hospitalized. Normally, patients will occupy a bed at an AHC for less than
72 hours.
(3) United States Army civilian employee health clinic. A US Army civilian
employee health clinic (CEHC) provides emergency treatment for on-the-job injuries or
illnesses, work-related medical examinations, and referrals to private health care
practitioners for civilian employees of the Federal government. Whenever possible, the
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