1. OBTAINING MEDICAL CARE
CAPT P. Jane Powers, USPHS
Director, Office of Health Services
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
April 2013

2. WHAT DOES NOAA HEALTH SERVICES DO?
NOAA Health Services is responsible for a comprehensive health
program for all who embark on NOAA controlled vessels, aircraft, and
participate in NOAA’s diving program. The staff is composed of nurse
practitioners, physician assistants, and registered nurses who
minimize medically related disruptions to sailing, flying, and diving by:
Providing acute/urgent/emergent medical care during operations
Developing and applying medical and physical standards, medical
screening programs, environmental assessments, and programs
that focus on disease prevention and control

3. OVERVIEW OF NOAA HEALTH SERVICES
POSITION
NAME
LOCATION
DUTIES
Director, Office of Health Services
CAPT Jane Powers
OMAO
Oversees overall health care delivery to OMAO
Regional Director of Health Services – East (RDHS-E)
CDR Les Cruise
MOC-A
Overall health care delivery to all east coast ships (Deputy Director)
Regional Director of Health Services – West (RDHS-W)
CDR Michelle Pelkey
MOC-P
Overall health care delivery to all west coast ships
AOC Medical Officer
CDR John Harris
AOC
Aviation health care
Dive Medical Officer
CDR Joel Dulaigh
NOAA Diving Program
Diving health care
Chief, Medical Affairs Branch, CPC
CDR Elizabeth Hobson-Powell
Commissioned Personnel Center
Coordination of health related services for NOAA Corps Officers
Advanced Staff Medical Officer
LT Christian Rathke
Ship medical coverage and RDHS-E and MOC-A coverage as needed
Rotating Medical Officer
LCDR James McEntee
MOC-A/Ronald Brown
MOC-A health services support and direct medical services to ship
CDR Dan DeLeon
Staff Medical Officer
CDR Helen Ballantyne
Ship medical coverage and MOC-P coverage as needed
Ship Medical Officer
LT Lisa Amaya
(LCDR Randy Collins after July ‘13)
Okeanos Explorer
Direct medical services to ship
CDR Al Goldstein
Hi’ialakai
CDR Hung Tran
Oscar Elton Sette

4. HOW DOES NOAA HEALTH SERVICES SERVE THE NOAA CORPS?
Chief, MAB: primary POC for medical policies and procedures, facilitates pre-employment medical process, manages medical records and monitors for deficiencies, monitors invoices and payments for medical services, validates medical/dental qualifications, liaison between NOAA Corps officer and NOAA Health Services
Director, Office of Health Services: fitness for duty processing for all NOAA Corps officers and candidates, consultation/advice
MOC Health Services: periodic physical examinations, immunizations, consultation/advice
NOAA Diving Program: monitors fitness for diving duty, consultation and advice
Aviation Health Services: monitors fitness for aviation duty, consultation and advice

5. CONTACTS
Who do I call for information related to my health care coverage?
Call TRICARE in your region: North Region
South Region
West Region
Who do I call for information related to my dental care coverage?
Call the TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program (ADDP) at:
ADDP (2337)
Who do I call to report a change in my health status (including pregnancy)
or have a question about medical policies and procedures?
Call CDR Elizabeth Hobson-Powell at: (301)
Who do I call if I have a question about fitness for duty?
Call CAPT Jane Powers at: (541)

6. UPDATES/REMINDERS
FAQ: “Getting Medical Care When You Are Sick or Injured”
a. Informational handout to be posted soon
b. Other topics for FAQ’s?
TRICARE:
a. Nurse Advice Line (NAL): coming soon! TRICARE
b. TRICARE West Region contract managed by United
Healthcare Military and Veterans as of April 1, 2013 -
ADDP:
a. Instructions for accessing dental care found at:

7. QUESTIONS? 11
Additional Details: Required to select a Primary care manager (PCM), or one will be assigned
PCM-provides and coordinate care
maintains medical records
referrals to specialists as prn
* Enrollment is continuous-automatically re-enrolled at the end of each 12- month period.
***Active Duty Service Members are given priority when scheduling appointments at MTF’s
***No annual deductible or co-pay