Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 17, Ed. 1 Friday, June 29, 1973 Page: 1 of 32
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VOL. 32 NO. 17
By RICHARD STACY
The Army will be facing a problem generated by
the suspension of the "Doctor Draft". The problem is
compounded by the reduction in the authorized
strength of the Medical Corps. This is not a new
problem for there has always been a shortage of
physicians in the military.
A new twist is that the shortage will reach a
critical state in the near future. The specific area
that will feel the burden the most is that of the
General Medical Officer—the Army's General Prac-
tioner. Numerous solutions have been offered to com
bat this problem many of which are in full operation
today at Darnall Army Hospital.
The first answer to the shortage of General Medical
Officers is the development of the Physicians'
Assistant Program (PA). It is designed to provide
fully trained assistants to expand the doctors
capabilities and increase the number of patients the
physician is able to treat.
The Physicians' assistant is an extension of the
general medical officer who by his formal training
and experience is qualified to perform several
procedures formerly limited to a doctor. These
procedures include taking medical histories perfor
ming physicals and initiating certain laboratory and
x-ray procedures.
They also have the ability to interpret this data and
prescribe limited treatment. The PA develops a
direct relationship with the patient while working un
der the direct supervision of a Medical Officer.
FIRST CLASS
The first class of Physicians' Assistants will com
plete the 72 week course and graduate from the
Academy Of Health Science at Ft. Sam Houston on
0
Fort Hood Sentinel
FORT HOOD FRIDAY JUNE 29 1973
August 10 1973. At graduation the new physicians'
assistants will be appointed warrant officers in the
Army Medical Department and receive an Associate
Of Science diploma with 68 semester hours of credit
from Baylor University.
The Ft. Hood MEDDAC will have a number of
these individuals assigned and will use them to staff
the Troop Medical Clinics located around Ft. Hood.
Another program designed to compensate for the
physicians shortage is the Automated Military Out
patient System (AMOS). This system is composed of
the following three modules:
(1) The Triage and Acute Minor Illness Clinic that
utilizes specially trained Army corpsmen
(AMOSIST).
(2) The Chronic Care Program that utilizes nurse
practioners to aid patients in the treatment of chronic
illnesses.
(3) The Comprehensive Clinic that aids the
physician in the work-up of patients with multiple
problems.
MINOR ILLNESSES
At present time the Darnall AMOS program is
operating with the first two modules. It is the product
of many long and dedicated hours of work and study
by those involved in the local program.
The first module uses corpsmen (91A's and 91C's)
to triage walk-in patients and treat acute minor
illnesses. The corpsmen are tested to meet the local
requirements of Darnall.
The creation of the module has replaced the out
patient clinic and with its replacement has come
many questions. The following point should help to
answer many of them:
32 Pages
Doctor Shortage To Reach 'Critical' In Military
Published by Community Enterprises Incorporated a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army. Opinions expressed by writers herein are their own and are not to be considered an official egression of the Department
of the Army. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an «ndor»ement by the Department of the products or services advertised.'
By JOHN SAVARD
A whirlwind of controversy
and shady dealings have
clouded the images of several
local insurance companies
and the Non-Commissioned
Officers Association (NCOA).
Problems here at Ft. Hood
began when two agents with
on-post permits were found in
possession of Army allotment
forms which they used in get
ting new clients. One of the
agents sold for American
Fidelity Life Insurance Co.
which is one of four com
panies endorsed by the
NCOA.
As part of their sales pit
ches these insurance
salemen would present the
prospective buyer with a
legitimate Department of the
Army allotment form which
would only require a sig
nature to be completed. The
salesmen would then return
to their office and file the
form in the soldier's name.
They would then deliver it to
somebody in the G. I.'s
finance section.
This action would
automatically tie-up a portion
of the soldier's pay for mon
ths. If the G. I. decided he
didn't want the insurance he
was already hooked. Part of
his pay to the tune of $20-$40
depending on his premium
would already be on its way
to the companies' home of
(1) Corpsmen use a flowsheet which limits them
from operating beyond their capability.
(2) The patient with an acute minor illness can be
treated more promptly as well as receiving more
personnel contact with a para-medic.
(3) Most important it relieves the physician from
having to see and treat the many patients with acute
minor illnesses. Thus he can devote more time to
other areas of medicine and gain job satisfaction.
(4) It is also important for the patient to keep in
mind that at any time during the process of treat
ment they may request to see a physician.
CHRONIC CARE CLINIC
The second module that Darnall is operating is the
Chronic Care Clinic. Under this program nurses are
used to complement the physician in the care of cer
tain chronic diseases. These patients are referred to
the chronic care nurse by the physician and together
they manage the patient's problems with the nurse
performing the majority of the care.
The following benefits are derived from this
program:
(1) It helps educate the patient about his disease as
well as other health hazards.
(2) It saves physicians time and increases their
satisfaction by having nurse support.
The third care module is the Comprehensive
Evaluation Clinic (CEC) which provides a method for
gathering a data based on patients through the use of
computers. It is in the experimental stages at
present and is not expected to be implemented until
the first two modules have settled into smooth
operation.
NURSE CLINICIAN
Another area where the physician is extended by
NCOA suffers image pains
through acts of
fices in Birmingham Ala. or
Pensacola Fla.
The only way the soldier
could stop the allotment was
to send another form in to
Ft. Benjamin Harrison Ind.
Until it arrived at the Army
finance center the flow of
funds from his pay would
continue to the insurance
companies.
The agents barred from
selling their insurance on
post in this case have since
been discharged by their
respective companies. A ^third
agent was implicated but
lack of definite identification
prevented the lifting of his
on-post sales privileges. He is
still working with his in
surance company selling in
surance on Ft. Hood.
NCOA officials at their in
ternational headquarters in
San Antonio told the Sentinel
that these agent's have no af
filiation with the NCOA. The
spokesmen stated that
American Fidelity is a big
company and not all the
company agents represent
the NCOA. Only resident
counselors of the NCOA are
that association's represen
tatives.
According to Mr. Harry
Easters chief of ad
ministrative services for the
Ft. Hood Adjutant General he
must grant on-post sales
shady
privileges to any insurance
agent who presents only
three items: a signed letter
from the vice-president of his
company proof of local
residence and a license to
sell insurance in Texas.
Other practices by some
American Fidelity agents are
rather questionable. As part
of their sales kit some
agents carry a form labeled
"Allotment Authorization" at
the top with the number GA
1041-1 at the bottom. The
form is a duplication of the
Army allotment authorization
form (DA 1041-1) with the ex
ception of the form number.
While a finance officer or
clerk could spot the differen
ce soldiers not familiar with
Army forms could easily be
foiled by this work form.
Resident counselors of the
NCOA also have a work form
to help them with allotments.
This form is labeled at the
top: "COMPANY CLERK:
INFORMATION FOR CLASS
E ALLOTMENT." This work
form is used as a part of an
insurance pitch when a ser
viceman joins the NCOA.
This work form has the
allottee as Academy Life In
surance Co. another com
pany sponsored by NCOA.
NCOA Benefits
"The NCOA was conceived
by a small group of NCO
Representatives from all ser-
para-medical personnel is the Nurse Clinician. Dar
nall currently has three programs in this area.
The Ambulatory Care Nurse Clinician has been
trained and has developed a proficiency to work with
selected patients to obtain a routine history review
the symptoms perform a physical examination for
mulate impressions of the illness and establish a
plan of care.
Demands on the obstetrician's time is great. The
physician in interested on concentrating his skills and
efforts on the pregnant woman who might be
threatened by medical or surgical complications. All
too often this creates a gap between the physician
and the woman with a normal pregnancy.
The OB nurse clinician fills this gap by providing
the answers to the numerous questions about child
birth and child care. In addition she performs much
of the routine pre and post natal care.
PEDIATRIC CLINIC
The Pediatric Clinic also has a nurse clincian who
performs similiar duties as the other clinicians.
The nurse clinicians make rounds with the
physicians which serves to extend their knowledge as
well as identifyingfuture patients. In all instances the
nurse clinician works under the supervision of a
physician. Yet they have freed the doctor from the
direct patient contact while still affording the direct
professional care and concern the patient expects.
All of these programs mentioned are designed not
to replace the physician but to extend his ability to
provide the care and concern each individual expects.
As the General Medical officer shortage become?
more apparent these programs will increase in sizt
and scope. In order for them to be judged successful
will take the understanding and patience of the Ft.
Hood community.
If this is done then these innovative health care
delivery systems can provide more responsive care
for all concerned.
Inside the Sentinel
Doctor shortage 12A
Tanker recipe 2B
Flashing fingers 7B
Retired couple 14A
duo
vices'' states NCOA
literature "who were
striving toward the same
goals those of political and
economic recognition and
enhancement of the image of
the professional NCO. ."n-
coa spokesmen in San
Antonio explain that their
association has two types»of
benefits. Pure or fraternal
benefits result from collec
tion of dues which are ten
dollars per year.
Among the fraternal
benefits the NCOA offers the
political power through an
organizational lobbyist in
Washington. He has contacts
through key congressional
leaders such as Rep. F. Ed
ward Hebert chairman of the
House Armed Services Com
mittee and Sen. Strom Thur
mond of South Carolina. In
tegral with membership is a
$500 accident insurance policy
which matures to $1500 after
three years membership.
A commercial benefit of
the NCOA is its auto club.
Bail bonding legal fees and
other such insurance protec
tion is part of the program. A
special $5000 accident in
surance policy is included.
While the club does not offer
towing service among its
benefits a touring service in
cluding maps motel direc-
Continued on 2A
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Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 17, Ed. 1 Friday, June 29, 1973, newspaper, June 29, 1973; Temple, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth255190/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Casey Memorial Library.