Naval Hospital ER Closed, Now Open As Urgent Care

June 1, 2014

The emergency room at Naval Hospital Pensacola is now an urgent care center Center that will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Emergency services at Naval Hospital Pensacola are no longer available.

The UCC will be available to all TRICARE beneficiaries to include TRICARE Prime enrolled at the hospital, TRICARE Prime Network, TRICARE Standard and TRICARE For Life. Veterans enrolled in the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System have not been authorized by the VA to use NHP’s UCC and should contact their VA healthcare team for their urgent care needs.

TRICARE beneficiaries will be able to visit the new UCC for acute care symptoms such as minor lacerations and injuries, fevers, sore throats and cough. For those beneficiaries enrolled with a Medical Home Port Team at NHP or one of the local branch clinics, it is highly recommended for them to contact their Medical Home Port Team during normal hours before visiting the UCC.

The decision to convert the ER into a UCC was based on Navy Medicine’s efforts to align resources to best meet the operational needs of the Navy, reduce healthcare costs and streamline its resources to provide the best care possible to beneficiaries.

Tricare beneficiaries in need of emergency services should visit one of the local Emergency Rooms or call 911. Beneficiaries  also have the option of calling the Nurse Advise Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-TRICARE, option 1. The Nurse Advice Line offers professional healthcare advice and can assist beneficiaries with deciding if they should visit an ER, the UCC or schedule an appointment with their Medical Home.

Photos by Petty Officer 1st Class James Stenberg for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “Naval Hospital ER Closed, Now Open As Urgent Care”

  1. Patrick Perault on May 11th, 2018 8:14 pm

    I was a Hospital Corpsman on active duty, working at this hospital when it first moved from the main base to its present location. This was 1974 – 1978 timeframe. I returned about a year ago while passing through and I didn’t hardly recognize it with the growth, and amount of activity going on. When we moved into the current building, it was like moving into a mansion! From working in the old wooden buildings on main post with open wards, to having actual hospital rooms. I ended up being a patient there two times while my on active duty. Best hospital care I’ve had in the past 40 years. Thanks for taking a teenager and making him into a man!

  2. jon on January 1st, 2015 8:26 am

    I worked here in 2012 it was the cleanest hospital I have ever worked for I now work for the VA. There is a big difference. Sorry to hear of Troubles in Pensacola. Its still a great place to raise a Family

  3. No Excuses on June 1st, 2014 10:30 am

    I am with you troubled – I think the government should give excellent care to it’s veterans and retirees! That is what they were promised. However, for those who can, Tri-Care and the local hospitals are not a bad way to go. My parents are both Veterans and in their 70’s. They are still quite healthy, other than “getting older” and both see doctors at the Navy hospital, but often visit the doctors on the local economy when they need to see specialists or have tests. So, it’s not entirely a bad thing if someone may need to use a local hospital. I have also experienced hospitalizations in the military and the civilian hospitals. I received excellent care at both.

  4. John on June 1st, 2014 8:45 am

    First the Navy didn’t do this the Defense Department did. They could have closed the entire facility. All they closed was the emergency facility.The retired people still have medical care they just have to go longer distance to get it and if they don’t go it’s their fault for what happens to them. As for the VA they are only as good as the individuals who work their. I agree that they need more doctors and staff. If the VA allowed the veterans to seek medical care else where the local hospitals couldn’t handle their needs. I go to VA once a year to stay in the system and the first thing my doctor ask me Is do I need any medication. All I have to do is fake a pain and I could get all the medication I wanted no test to check things out just a pill. In my opinion they over medicate. My Dr. (now retired) told me they have a total of 10 minutes for each patient they see. My civilian Dr. gets 15 minutes. When you look at the medical institutions it’s all about the money.

  5. troubled on June 1st, 2014 7:49 am

    I am sorry that the navy decided that the retiree’s should go else where for emergency’s. I know that the V.A. isn’t all that good, because of the way I have had to fight for care. My parents had to deal with Navy and it wasn’t good and if older Tri-care people have to find some ER that they have never been to I see them just NOT going for care they need. Retired people were promised care if they stayed in the military and now they have to find someone to care for them, I think military should keep their promise and not make them(retires) chase down care. If you look at the building, see all the space being wasted.
    me ,just saying
    military messing with retriee’s
    not good!!!!!!