USNH Yokosuka Deploys Staff; Reduces Negishi Clinic Services
Story and photo by Ben Avey, USNH Yokosuka Public Affairs



Blue Star flags honoring USNH Yokosuka medical staff who are currently deployed as individual augmentees in support of overseas contingency operations and Navy missions around the world are proudly displayed at the hospital. Due to these deployments, a reduction in Branch Health Annex Yokohama services at Negishi Housing Detachment will begin after Aug. 13.

This summer and fall, nearly 70 medical staff from U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Yokosuka will deploy in support of overseas contingency operations and Navy missions worldwide. From Iraq to Afghanistan, on land and at sea, USNH Yokosuka Sailors are, and will continue to be, on the front lines of the United States military mission abroad.

A s a military treatment facility, these deployments occur regularly and are prepared for in advance to minimize the effect on beneficiaries. However, due to the fluid nature of deployments and other workforce shaping variables, USNH Yokosuka currently has more medical providers deployed than expected. As such, some changes to services are anticipated as the hospital adapts to operational requirements of our Navy and Marine Corps.

“It is important for folks to know that we may make some changes, but we do so for the benefit of our entire community,” said USNH Yokosuka Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin Moore. “We are committed to caring for their needs no matter what challenges present themselves.”

Regrettably, one noticeable change will be the reduction in services at Branch Health Annex (BHA) Yokohama on board Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Negishi Housing Detachment after Aug. 13. While emergency ambulance response will remain, primary care services will no longer be offered at that facility. USNH Yokosuka will be consolidating those services to the core hospital facility.

“We have exhausted all of our options and have no choice but to reduce services at BHA Yokohama,” said Moore. “It’s a shame and I wish we didn’t have to do it, but with fewer medical providers on hand right now, we need to assign them to the clinics where they can see the most patients.” Due to the shift of care to the main hospital and deployment of medical providers, patients may encounter longer wait times for appointments. However, USNH Yokosuka is using creative solutions to mitigate these potential delays.

“We are trying to ease the scheduling congestion by giving patients more options regarding the providers they see,” said Director for Medical Services Capt. (Dr.) Treyce Knee. “For example, patients under the age of 17 are now scheduled to see pediatrics providers who can provide more timely access to care than the family practice clinic where we are short on staff.”

Other solutions include a special clinic Aug. 28 for local student’s sports physicals. Sports physicals are required annually for many students who participate in extracurricular activities and regularly clog the clinic schedules in the months prior to the start of the school year.

The community can also help by ensuring that patients call the hospital to cancel or reschedule appointments 24 hours in advance if they can’t make it. Last summer 1,560 appointments were wasted due to patient “no-shows.”