“With the opening of the new children’s waiting room, parents can focus on their health knowing their children are in a secure, welcoming environment.” – Scott Farmer, regional director, South Operations
Making time for medical appointments is one thing but juggling schedules to secure child care to attend can be an even greater challenge for military parents.
The Armed Services YMCA is helping to meet that challenge by providing children’s waiting room services to make it easier for parents to attend important medical and mental health appointments.
As a longtime supporter of our nation’s military and Veteran communities, TriWest Healthcare Alliance is a primary sponsor of two new Armed Services YMCA Children’s Waiting Rooms in the TRICARE West Region.
A grand opening of the latest took place April 25 at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. TriWest’s Dr. Koji Nishimura, chief medical officer-TRICARE, Alisha Smith (vice president, Military and Veteran Services, South Operations) and Scott Farmer (regional director, South Operations) attended the ribbon cutting.
“Access to child care is more than just a convenience – it’s a crucial support system for patients,” Farmer said.
The grand opening was the second children’s waiting room that TriWest has sponsored. TriWest also is helping military parents get to appointments at Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Lakewood, Washington.
“Too often, medical appointments are missed or canceled because families can’t find child care, adding stress to an already challenging situation,” Farmer explained. “With the opening of the new children’s waiting room, parents can focus on their health knowing their children are in a secure, welcoming environment.”
According to Donna Hoffmeier, senior vice president, Strategic Communications and Advocacy, the Armed Services YMCA children’s waiting room concept has been replicated at multiple installations across the country. A study confirmed that about 25% of all military treatment facility appointment cancellations are due to the inability of the active duty Service member or spouse to make an appointment (or take a child to an appointment) due to lack of child care, the cost of child care or a sudden cancellation of a babysitter.
“As TriWest sees the value of ensuring active duty family members make their appointments, we made this commitment in support of the initiative,” Hoffmeier said.
This is yet one more way TriWest is living its mission to do Whatever It Takes!® to help our Veteran and military communities.