New hires ease backlog at Yongsan hospital

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New hires ease backlog at Yongsan hospital
By Ashley Rowland, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, May 2, 2008

SEOUL — The commander of U.S. Forces Korea’s largest hospital said hiring two new doctors and shuffling its current staff have eased an appointment backlog enough that all but new civilian patients can get appointments now.

The 121st Combat Support Hospital had been using a six-tiered system since January to determine who could get appointments because of a staffing shortage.

Patients who couldn’t get appointments had to go to South Korean doctors for medical care.

Under that system, Tricare Prime active-duty servicemembers had priority for appointments, then their families, then the families of noncommand-sponsored troops.

Hospital officials said they hoped to ease the restrictions by April.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54476