The United States Army Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC) stands ready 24 hours a day to support the National Training Center mission and the military families who live here. Comprehensive health and preventive medicine services are provided to the active duty personnel, both assigned and rotational, their family members, and retirees.

The nature of care provided at Weed Army Community Hospital (WACH) focuses on primary care, as well as occasional severe trauma. WACH has a total of 21 care providers to include specialists in General Surgery, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Mental Health and one flight surgeon. A Physical Therapist, a Dietitian, and an Optometrist complement the staff of health care providers.

The Clinical Laboratory, Radiology Department, and Pharmacy Service furnish necessary support activities, all of which result in comprehensive primary care.

Patients requiring a higher level of treatment are referred to other military as well as civilian treatment facilities if necessary. Military sick-call is conducted Monday through Friday from 7 to 8:30 a.m. for units without an assigned Battalion Aid Station. WACH uses a primary care manager system. Soldiers and their family members at Fort Irwin are assigned a primary health care provider determined by the sponsor's unit assignment.

All appointments for services provided at Weed Army Community Hospital are scheduled through a centralized Patient Appointment System with the exception of Radiology, Physical Therapy, and Community Mental Health. The Central Appointments number is (760) 380-3124.

Patients with a problem that is not an emergency, but cannot wait for a routine appointment are referred to the Triage Nurse unit. The Triage Nurse contacts the patient and schedules a same-day appointment or provides advice for self care.

The Preventive Medicine Service (PMS), provides Community and Occupational Health Nursings, and Environmental and Industrial Health Services to Fort Irwin. PMS coordinates the smoking cessation program, the self help program, and the food handler's course.

The Community Mental Health Service provides direct Psychology and Social Work services to the community. The Family Advocacy Case Management Team is managed from this office.

The MEDDAC provides the clinical staff in support of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Program (ADAPCP) contributing counseling and treatment.

The mission of the Fort Irwin Dental Activity is to ensure the dental readiness of Fort Irwin active duty Soldiers; assist in the emergency dental care of rotational unit Soldiers; and provide limited space available, family member dental care in a fair and equitable manner.

The Department of Defense (DoD) regards dental care differently than medical care. In the continental United States (CONUS), dental clinics are staffed based only on active-duty population, and family members are not authorized routine dental care at military treatment facilities (AR 40-3). In 1992, DoD directed the Army to limit non-active duty dental care. The Army Dental Corps was providing approximately 40 percent of their total care to non-active duty individuals, while the Navy and Air Force were limiting non-active duty dental care to approximately five percent. This applied to active duty family members, as well as military retirees and their family members.

Allowable exceptions to AR 40-3 are: (1) training programs; (2) OCONUS locations; (3) medical related treatment (such as cancer therapy); and (4) installations located more than 30 miles from civilian dental care. These exceptions are for space-available dental care only and are always prioritized after activeduty dental care.

Fort Irwin is the only CONUS Army post that qualifies for family member exception, because the installation is located more than 30 miles from civilian dental care. The only increases in dental staffing at Fort Irwin DENTAC as a result of the AR 40-3 exception are one pediatric dentist and one orthodontist.