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After having been employed as the Humana Military GulfSouth Market Office Medical Director for only a month, I received a call from a health care finder (HCF) with profound concern in her voice. She explained that she had interviewed an active duty service member and his 22-year old spouse who had just given birth to their first-born child, a boy, who was afflicted with port wine stain deformities. These deformities are large vascular malformations that are exhibited by large, dark, wine-colored discolorations about the facial and neck areas.
The HCF went on to explain that the rather apprehensive father had researched the Internet and learned of a physician in New York willing to schedule an immediate appointment to perform a new radical treatment on the infant. I reflected on my past encounters with families with children affected by port wine stain deformities and how these dreadful defects have devastated parents and children. I imagined the panic this young couple must be experiencing.
The HCF and the beneficiary services representative (BSR) at this TRICARE Service Center had the insight to conclude that there was certainly treatment available closer to their duty station. They requested that the parents allow them time to research the local area, and the family readily agreed. After much research, they identified the Chairman of Dermatology at a major university who was able to treat the child, but unable to schedule an appointment within a month. Literature reveals that it is imperative that port wine stains be evaluated as soon as possible as the malformation may be associated with Sturge Weber Syndrome.
The BSR explained the sense of urgency to the physician, who in turn took the initiative to contact the family personally and schedule an evaluation.
Treatment for port wine stains can often be considered experimental; therefore, I requested that clinical findings be forwarded to me, as well as Humana Military Second Level Review (SLR). The BSR contacted the SLR associates and explained the urgency of the referral and recommendations by the dermatologist.
Following review of the clinical information submitted, it was determined that the child would be scheduled for Pulse Dye Laser treatment within the recommended time frame.
There is no question that our associates strive to put the “I Care” in TRICARE. And we repeatedly experience our provider partners teaming with us and making every effort to lessen the worry, anxiety and apprehension that many of our military beneficiaries endure when having to cope with family separation coupled with unforeseen illness and disease. My hat’s off to you!
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