Winter inclement weather health care guidelines Published Feb. 2, 2009 By Kathryne Friess 66th Medical Operations Squadron HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- In the event of inclement winter weather, individuals with medical appointments should call Hanscom's Weather Information System Hotline at (781) 377-COLD prior to departing for their appointment. Appointments will automatically be canceled during base closures. To reschedule a canceled appointment, patients should call the Hanscom Appointment Line at (888) NAVYMED or visit Tricare Online. Patients rescheduling by phone should inform the appointment clerk that the appointment was canceled due to the clinic closure and the appointment will be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity. If emergency care is required, individuals should go to the nearest emergency room for treatment. Prior authorization is not required for emergency care. In the case of urgent care, however, prior authorization for emergency room services is required. If a patient requires urgent care while the base is closed and cannot wait until the clinic re-opens, they should call the Hanscom Appointment Line and request to speak to the on-call provider. The on-call provider will provide instructions or may authorize emergency room care if medically necessary. If there is a delayed opening of the base, patients should arrive for appointments as scheduled. The clinic will open for normal operations at 7:30 a.m. regardless of a delayed opening and will accommodate scheduled patients as they arrive. If the weather prevents a patient from keeping their appointment during a delayed base opening, they should call the Hanscom Appointment Line to cancel the appointment. For more information call (801) 377-4021 or e-mail Kathryne.Friess@hanscom.af.mil.