Civilians can consider military treatment facility if injured Published July 1, 2008 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- If an Air Force civilian employee is injured on the job, time can be vitally important in getting that injury treated. One of the best solutions for both an employee and the Air Force is to use an emergency room at a base military treatment facility. Yet few employees take advantage of this resource, said Matt Newburn, the employee management relations program manager at the Air Force Personnel Center here. "A recent Air Force audit on the Worker's Compensation Program found that less than 33 percent of injured employees seek out care at the (military treatment facility)," Mr. Newburn said. "Although the Air Force audit only looked at 12 bases, it showed that an additional $3.4 million was paid in workers' compensation medical costs as a result of employees not using the (military treatment facility)." While the Worker's Compensation Program pays 100 percent of a covered employee's health costs, Mr. Newburn said, "We believe injured civilian workers feel that they aren't eligible to be treated at the (military treatment facility) or that there won't be room for them. But in most instances, that isn't true." Most, but not all, base medical facilities have the resources to provide emergency treatment to a civilian injured on the job. The military treatment facility commander can provide care to federal employees based on space and facility limitations, staff capabilities, quality assurance concerns, effective use of the facility and resource and mission requirements. However, sometimes base military treatment facilities experience temporary manning shortages as active-duty members are deployed during wartime and other factors. "Ask your supervisor if your base hospital accepts civilian employees for the initial treatment of a job related injury," Mr. Newburn said. "Each civilian personnel flight has a designated staff member who administers the installation injury compensation program. Your supervisor should contact that person to find out if your base can assist with a job related injury in an emergency." Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page