Fort Bliss Monitor

Troop Talk

Many of you have asked about the status of the Starbucks Coffee facility, which has been named the Main Street X-presso featuring Starbucks coffee. The design is complete and bids have gone out for renovating the old frame shop building. We estimate a completion time of Nov. 1 if all goes as planned.

The 2004 Fort Bliss Spouses Information Fair will be Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Army Community Service Ballroom, Bldg. 2494 (next to the Stayton Movie Theater). This information fair is for all spouses new and old to Fort Bliss who would like to gather information on the community and to sign up for current or upcoming events, classes and activities. Many Fort Bliss and El Paso organizations will have tables set up to assist participants. The mission is to provide spouses a one-stop shop to receive information for themselves and their children to better transition into Fort Bliss. This event is sponsored by the Army Community Service Relocation Assistance Program. Need to finish or start school? The Fort Bliss Education Center will offer information on classes available. Health and Wellness video will be available at the fair. Volunteer organizations will be present as well as voting assistance officers. Questions on the event should be directed to the Relocation Assistance program manager at 569-7762 or 568-7088. See page 25.

Medical care is always a concern of Soldiers and families. William Beaumont Army Medical Center strives to give the best care possible and they have a comprehensive Obstetrics and Gynecology service for Soldiers, family members and retirees. Hopefully this clarification of services and how to seek care will clear up some of the concerns brought to my attention. Patients that require a first time OB appointment should call the TRICARE Service Center at 680-7600 to schedule an appointment for New-OB orientation. This orientation provides the patient with counseling, vitamins, necessary lab tests and arranges for a physical exam. Our point of contact for New-OB Orientation is Jim Espejo at 569-3020. Patients that have attended the New-OB orientation and require follow-up appointments should call the OB-GYN clinic directly at 569-1101, 569-1155, or 569-2064.

Although we have lost providers due to deployment and ETS, the OB-GYN clinic is actively working to improve this situation. WBAMC currently has four OB-GYN physicians, an OB-GYN nurse practitioner, a nurse midwife and is actively contracting with two additional OB-GYN physicians that should arrive in September 2004. Finally, an active duty OB-GYN physician will be returning from OIF soon and will be available in October 2004. We are confident these additions will help improve family member access to some GYN services that are currently being referred to TRICARE network providers in the local community. For assistance on any health care matter, contact patient assistance representatives Sarah Smith or Rosanna Hutton, at 569-2692.
Safety is always of concern to commanders and Soldiers. Last year, POV accidents here resulted in the deaths of four Soldiers. POV accidents account for 56 percent of all accidental deaths in the Army. TRADOC and GC commanders will soon receive a packet on the “Fort Bliss Highway Safety Program.” Information in this packet will assist the commander in evaluating his own internal safety program and possibly even help to save lives. The six-point model program consists of: command emphasis; discipline; risk management; standards; providing alternative activities; and the commander’s assessment, which is a part of the fatality review board held after the death of a Soldier. I encourage commanders and leaders at all levels to use this information as a model for their safety program, with special emphasis on POV accidents. As another safety measure, I have asked responsible organizations to make sure all roads necessary be blocked during unit runs. Soldiers participating should not have to be concerned with vehicular traffic while running.

Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane
Fort Bliss Commanding General



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	August 12, 2004

	Troop Talk Many of you have asked about the status of the Starbucks Coffee facility, which has been named the Main Street X-presso featuring Starbucks coffee. The design is complete and bids have gone out for renovating the old frame shop building. We estimate a completion time of Nov. 1 if all goes as planned. The 2004 Fort Bliss Spouses Information Fair will be Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Army Community Service Ballroom, Bldg. 2494 (next to the Stayton Movie Theater). This information fair is for all spouses new and old to Fort Bliss who would like to gather information on the community and to sign up for current or upcoming events, classes and activities. Many Fort Bliss and El Paso organizations will have tables set up to assist participants. The mission is to provide spouses a one-stop shop to receive information for themselves and their children to better transition into Fort Bliss. This event is sponsored by the Army Community Service Relocation Assistance Program. Need to finish or start school? The Fort Bliss Education Center will offer information on classes available. Health and Wellness video will be available at the fair. Volunteer organizations will be present as well as voting assistance officers. Questions on the event should be directed to the Relocation Assistance program manager at 569-7762 or 568-7088. See page 25. Medical care is always a concern of Soldiers and families. William Beaumont Army Medical Center strives to give the best care possible and they have a comprehensive Obstetrics and Gynecology service for Soldiers, family members and retirees. Hopefully this clarification of services and how to seek care will clear up some of the concerns brought to my attention. Patients that require a first time OB appointment should call the TRICARE Service Center at 680-7600 to schedule an appointment for New-OB orientation. This orientation provides the patient with counseling, vitamins, necessary lab tests and arranges for a physical exam. Our point of contact for New-OB Orientation is Jim Espejo at 569-3020. Patients that have attended the New-OB orientation and require follow-up appointments should call the OB-GYN clinic directly at 569-1101, 569-1155, or 569-2064. Although we have lost providers due to deployment and ETS, the OB-GYN clinic is actively working to improve this situation. WBAMC currently has four OB-GYN physicians, an OB-GYN nurse practitioner, a nurse midwife and is actively contracting with two additional OB-GYN physicians that should arrive in September 2004. Finally, an active duty OB-GYN physician will be returning from OIF soon and will be available in October 2004. We are confident these additions will help improve family member access to some GYN services that are currently being referred to TRICARE network providers in the local community. For assistance on any health care matter, contact patient assistance representatives Sarah Smith or Rosanna Hutton, at 569-2692. Safety is always of concern to commanders and Soldiers. Last year, POV accidents here resulted in the deaths of four Soldiers. POV accidents account for 56 percent of all accidental deaths in the Army. TRADOC and GC commanders will soon receive a packet on the “Fort Bliss Highway Safety Program.” Information in this packet will assist the commander in evaluating his own internal safety program and possibly even help to save lives. The six-point model program consists of: command emphasis; discipline; risk management; standards; providing alternative activities; and the commander’s assessment, which is a part of the fatality review board held after the death of a Soldier. I encourage commanders and leaders at all levels to use this information as a model for their safety program, with special emphasis on POV accidents. As another safety measure, I have asked responsible organizations to make sure all roads necessary be blocked during unit runs. Soldiers participating should not have to be concerned with vehicular traffic while running. Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane Fort Bliss Commanding General