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Calendar of Events

Announcements
1. The 2006 ACOA Committees
2. ACOA Uniform Store
3. ACOA Roadside Cleanup
4. CRUNCH and RUN: OFRD Annual Physical Fitness Testing
5. Seeking Volunteers for the EIS Prediction Run!
6. Volunteers needed for USO: April – June, 2006
7. SAVE THE DATE: 2006 ACOA Spring Fling

Articles
1. ACOA Sponsors Successful Roadside Cleanup on March 11, 2006
2. Preparing an Emergency Financial Record Kit
3. Exercise and Weight Control
4. Let the Lifestyle Fitness Centers help you prepare for the Annual Physical Fitness Test!
5. USPHS Associate Recruiters Staff Rollins School of Public Health Career Day 2006 at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
6. Expecting or Considering a New Addition? Review TRICARE’s Maternity Coverage

Crunch and Run (OFRD APFT). Saturday, April 15, Time: 0900. St. Pius High School Track. Contact: CDR Joseph Little at 770-488-3339.

The EIS Prediction Run APFT. Tuesday, April 25, Time: 1800. Piedmont Park, Midtown. Contact: LCDR Amanda Dunnick at 770-488-1989, CDR Joseph Little at 770-488-3339, or CDR Robert Knowles at 404-498-0426

Atlanta COA Roadside Cleanup. Saturday, May 13, Time: 0930 to 1130. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (1450 Ponce De Leon Ave NE). Contact: CAPT (Ret.) Gary Noonan at 770-488-3449 or CDR Nita Sood at 404-562-7541.

ACOA Spring Fling. Saturday, May 20. Time: 1100 to 1500. Dekalb County Recreation Parks (exact site to be determined later). Contact: CDR Craig Wilkins at 404-639-7057 or LCDR Amanda Dunnick at 770-488-1989.

Crunch and Run (OFRD APFT). Saturday, May 20, Time: 0900. St. Pius High School Track. Contact: CDR Robert Knowles at 404-498-0426.

Promotion Benchmark Presentations in June – Save these dates:

Environmental Health Promotion Benchmarks presented by CAPT Craig Shepherd, CPO. Thursday, June 8, Time: 1200-1300. Chamblee, Bldg 101, Room 3002. Contact: CAPT Deborah Levy at 404-639-4086 or CDR Joseph Little at 770-488-3339.

Physician Promotion Benchmarks presented by CAPT David Rutstein, CPO. Thursday, June 15, Time: 1200-1300. Roybal, Bldg 19, Room 254/255. Contact: CAPT Deborah Levy at 404-639-4086 or CDR Joseph Little at 770-488-3339.

Scientist Promotion Benchmarks presented by CAPT Helena Mishoe, CPO. Friday, June 23, Time: 1200-1300. Location to be announced later. Contact: CAPT Deborah Levy at 404-639-4086 or CDR Joseph Little at 770-488-3339.

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Volunteers needed for USO: April – June, 2006

ACOA is seeking volunteers to support the Jean R. Amos USO center at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport. The call at this time is for Commissioned Corps officers who would like to volunteer on the following Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm: April 15, May 20, or June 17. This is a great opportunity for those that missed out during the special December holiday support day. Please contact LCDR John Whitesides if you would like to volunteer.

Thank you for your support!

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SAVE THE DATE: 2006 ACOA Spring Fling

The ACOA is planning a Spring Fling for all Atlanta Area Commissioned Officers on Saturday, May 20, 2006 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm at one of the Dekalb County Recreation Parks (site to be determined later). ACOA is planning this event as an occasion for officers, spouses, families, significant others, and friends to meet socially, enjoy camaraderie and fellowship, and foster esprit de corps. We plan to schedule some fun-filled activities, so the dress for this event will be summer casual.

Please note that once a site has been determined we will send out a reminder email via the ACOA distribution list and post the information on the ACOA website. If you have any questions or would like more information about this upcoming event, please contact CDR Craig Wilkins at 404-639-7057 or LCDR Amanda Dunnick at 770-488-1989.

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Articles

ACOA Sponsors Successful Roadside Cleanup on March 11, 2006

Nearly 20 officers and family members participated in the one-mile roadside cleanup sponsored by ACOA on Saturday, March 11, 2006. The volunteers gathered at a local church on Saturday morning to remove roadside litter along a one-mile stretch of Ponce De Leon Avenue between Briarcliff and Clifton Roads. This community service project has been accepted and sustained by ACOA as part of the Georgia Adopt-a-Highway program. ACOA contractually agrees to clean up a section of roadway four times each year. Please join us for our next quarterly cleanup on May 13th at 9:30 am. We meet at the Church of the Latter Day Saints, 1450 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA. Family members and friends are always welcome! For questions, contact CAPT (Ret.) Gary Noonan at 770-488-3449 or CDR Nita Sood at 404-562-7541.


ACOA members at the March 11 Roadside Cleanup.

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Preparing an Emergency Financial Record Kit      
From Federal Citizen Information Center
www.pueblo.gsa.gov

Disasters like floods, fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes strike without warning and can affect anyone. Your number one priority in these situations is making sure your family is safe, not finding your most recent copies of insurance policies or bank statements. Read on to learn how to prepare an emergency financial records kit and to make sure you have access to other important documents in case the unexpected happens to you.

What Documents Should You Have Ready?

Every family should have an emergency financial records kit they can grab in case they need to leave their home quickly. You might want to store the documents in an accordion file and keep it in your emergency supply kit so that everything you need is together. Items you should put in the kit include:

• Identification for all family members. This can include documents such as driver’s licenses, insurance cards, Social Security cards, passports and birth certificates.

• Checkbook with blank checks and deposit slips. Even if you never write checks it is handy to have at least one check so you have a record of your checking account number and financial institution’s routing number.

• ATM cards, debit cards, and credit cards. PIN numbers for all these cards will also be helpful, but remember it is always best to memorize you PIN numbers—don’t store them near the cards in case of theft.

• Cash

• Contact information for your financial service providers and important account numbers. It may also be helpful to make photocopies of the front and back sides of your credit cards and keep them in the kit.

• Safe deposit box key

Remember that these documents contain personal information like social security numbers and bank account information that could be used against you if they fell into the wrong hands. Be sure your emergency financial records kit is stored in a secure location in your home so it is easy for you to carry away in a disaster, but not for a thief to carry away in a robbery.

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Exercise and Weight Control
Submitted by: LCDR Tina Lankford, DNPA and Lauren Williams, Lifestyle Program

There are many reasons that people give for exercising. One of the most popular is weight loss and weight control. In a country where 30% of adults are obese, it’s becoming crucial that we recognize the importance of incorporating regular exercise into our lives.

The benefits of exercise are well-known:
• Decreases risk of developing coronary heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and stroke
• Decreases blood pressure in those with known hypertension
• Decreases total cholesterol
• Improves mood
• Aids in weight control

These are just a few of the known benefits and there are many others that we can add to this list. Let’s take some time and focus on the last benefit listed above: weight control.

In an age of ever-expanding waistlines, we are not only seeing increasing body mass, but also increasing health problems. By maintaining an appropriate weight, we can reduce our risk of developing a number of disorders, such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Body mass index, or BMI, is one way of determining whether or not we are at a healthy weight. BMI is simply a ratio of height to weight, and can be determined by using the BMI calculator on CDC’s Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity’s website. The CDC recommends that adults maintain a BMI of 18.5-24.9. Ideally, the combination of a healthy diet and exercise will lead to the greatest success in weight loss and weight control. By increasing energy output, exercise plays a critical role in this.

There are two forms of exercise that need to be included in any workout plan: aerobic exercise and resistance training. Aerobic exercise is any exercise that utilizes large muscle groups and is performed for an extended period of time. Examples include walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling, just to name a few. Resistance training uses weights, machines, or your own body weight to strengthen the muscles. Both forms of exercise bring valuable benefits that are important for weight control.

Aerobic exercise burns body fat. The amount and type of exercise you do will determine how much exercise is needed to make a difference in your weight. The recommendations for physical activity are:
• 30 or more minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on 5 or more days per week (CDC and American College of Sports Medicine), OR
• 20 or more minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity on 3 or more days per week (Healthy People 2010)

If you are currently inactive, try beginning an exercise program by walking for 20-30 minutes a day. As this becomes a regular habit, you will need to add more time or intensity to your exercise to assist with your weight control. If you are currently active, try increasing the amount or intensity of physical activity in your daily routine. As your body adapts to the increasing demands you place upon it, you will require a greater challenge for weight control to continue. Studies have shown that approximately 60 minutes per day of physical activity may be needed to prevent weight gain.

Resistance training is important because it builds muscle tissue. Muscle uses calories at a faster rate than fat, so it is vital to increase the amount of muscle tissue in the body if you are trying to lose or maintain your weight. It is worth noting that after the age of 25, the average American gains one pound of body fat and loses one-third to one-half pound of muscle each year. In addition, resting metabolism decreases approximately 2-5% each decade after age 25. By participating in a regular resistance training program, we can preserve or increase our muscle mass, helping to reverse the changes mentioned above. It is recommended that individuals participate in resistance training 2-3 times per week, performing 8-10 exercises for the major muscle groups.

The staff in the Lifestyle Fitness Centers is ready to help you develop an exercise program and reach your goals. Be sure to stop by anytime between 6:30am and 6:30pm, Monday-Friday, for assistance. We look forward to seeing you!

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Let the Lifestyle Fitness Centers help you prepare for the Annual Physical Fitness Test!
Submitted by: LCDR Tina Lankford, DNPA and Lauren Williams, Lifestyle Program

The ACOA-sponsored Crunch and Runs assess cardiovascular fitness (1.5 mile run), core strength (sit-ups/side bridge), and upper body strength (push-ups), as required by OFRD’s Annual Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The Lifestyle Fitness Centers have qualified staff to help you prepare for this test, in addition to helping you develop an overall exercise program to promote cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility. Equipment Instructors are available in all Lifestyle Fitness Centers from 6:30-8:30am, 11:00am-1:30pm, and 4:00-6:30pm. Just stop in and ask to meet with one of them. In addition, one-on-one consultations can be scheduled with a Fitness Specialist or Exercise Program Coordinator. Call 404-639-2164 to set up a consultation appointment.

Be sure to also stop at the front desk and check out the APFT notebook, which describes all of the components and rules of the test.

**Registration is required to use all Lifestyle Fitness Centers**

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USPHS Associate Recruiters Staff Rollins School of Public Health Career Day 2006 at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Submitted by: CAPT Susanne Pickering, LT Jennifer Freed and LT Angel Sanchez

Emory University Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH) held its annual Career Fair for 2006 on Thursday, February 23, 2006. For the fourth year in a row, U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Associate Recruiters participated in this event along with about 30 other public health organizations and agencies. This career fair was an excellent venue to inform high quality first and second year public health graduate students about opportunities within the Commissioned Corps, and to strengthen the USPHS Commissioned Corps by recruiting top-notch candidates to serve as the next generation of public health leaders. It has also provided RSPH students with an opportunity to network and learn about opportunities and careers with the USPHS Commissioned Corps.

The Atlanta Commissioned Officers Association (ACOA) sponsored this Commissioned Corps recruitment activity by funding the “Employer” registration fee both this and last year. This contribution is in line with both ACOA’s and National COA’s missions to support and advocate for the PHS Commissioned Corps and its officers, and their functions to disseminate public and professional information. Emory University had generously waived the registration fee for USPHS Associate Recruiter participation during the 2003 and 2004 Career Fairs. This reflected their commitment to building a strong public health work force, and the shared history of collaboration between Emory University, the USPHS, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).¹

The USPHS Commissioned Corps is interested in recruiting the highest quality students with a broad range of health and public health-related skills. Recruiting in the Atlanta area and at Emory University RSPH is an excellent example of where to find these quality applicants. The RSPH is comprised of six academic departments: behavioral sciences and education, biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, policy and management, and global health. Due to the number of schools at Emory, students who attend the RSPH Career Fair may be participating in dual degree programs. Emory University offers dual degrees in public health and business, medicine, nursing, and law.

Competition for these top-notch public health graduate students was steep at the Career Fair, with over 30 employers actively recruiting. The organizations included non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, national associations, educational institutions, and state and federal government agencies.

The graduate level students attending the Career Fair were very interested in information about the Commissioned Corps, the work of the organization, and current positions for which they could apply. They asked specific questions about applicant requirements and the application process, including how long it takes to process an application. They were informed about the types of positions, the professional categories, pay scales and benefits, physical fitness, readiness, and officership. The various Agencies and locales where Commissioned Officers serve were also discussed. The Associate Recruiters did not provide information on specific salaries or positions open, but made reference to Division of Commissioned Corps website and other federal websites for position announcements. Each Associate Recruiter offered to be a primary contact and to be of assistance if questions arose in the future.

All officers who staffed this Career Fair are officially enrolled in the Associate Recruiter Program (ARP). The ARP is a voluntary program re-established in 2001 with the mission to recruit qualified health professionals, engineers, and IT professionals for all USPHS agencies and other affiliated Federal programs. Information on enrollment in this program is available on DCP's website. LT Jennifer Freed, Environmental Health Officer (EHO) and LT Angel Sanchez, Health Services Officer (HSO), both with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and CAPT Susanne Pickering, a Therapist Officer with the CDC Office of the Chief Science Officer, served at this year’s event. At last year’s event, prospective recruits interested in global health were particularly enthusiastic about speaking with CAPT David Sniadack of the CDC National Immunization Program Global Immunization Division. CAPT Sniadack, a medical officer, served in Bangladesh for seven years working with the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Health and other partners on the Expanded Program of Immunization and polio eradication efforts. CAPT John Steward, an EHO, and LCDR Ali Danner, an HSO from the CDC Office of Commissioned Corps Personnel helped staff this event in 2003. CDR Alan Parham, the EHO Category Associate Recruiter Lead, assisted by providing recruitment materials and a USPHS Commissioned Corps tabletop display.

Although not a requirement, being an alumni of a program for which you are recruiting is a plus. CAPT Susanne Pickering, CAPT David Sniadack, and LT Jennifer Freed are all RSPH alumni, so they appreciate the high level of training and experience these master and doctoral level students can bring to the USPHS Commissioned Corps. Students can also relate their own training to those of the Associate Recruiters and to potential careers in the Commissioned Corps.

Serving at the Emory University RSPH Career Fair recruitment event provided an opportunity for volunteer Associate Recruiters to advance the USPHS Commissioned Corps within the public health community, and simultaneously benefit the Commissioned Corps with high quality applicants. Support of this type of activity by ACOA and National COA is appreciated. Without this backing, efforts by line-officers to promote and strengthen the Commissioned Corps through recruitment of the highest caliber health and public health graduates might not be fruitful. Providing for the easy availability of materials such as table top displays, information packets, fact sheets, business cards and other promotional items, and funding for registration fees, is one step toward promoting these efforts. Another is to establish methods for quickly determining available billets and Junior and Senior COSTEP opportunities within the various Agencies to assist in matching vacant positions with potential applicants. There is a cadre of willing and enthusiastic Commissioned Corps officers willing to voluntarily contribute to this effort.

¹In 1947, Emory University “sold” 15 acres adjacent to its main campus for a token ten dollars for use by the then named Communicable Disease Center (CDC). CDC staff contributed the ten dollars.  This property is current headquarters for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Etheridge, EW. Sentinel of Health: the history of the Centers for Disease Control. University of California Press, Berkeley. 1992.)


LT Angel Sanchez, LT Jennifer Freed, and CAPT Susanne Pickering at the 2006 RSPH Career Fair.


LT Jennifer Freed and LT Angel Sanchez speak with RSPH students about the Commissioned Corps.

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Expecting or Considering a New Addition? Review TRICARE’s Maternity Coverage

Being pregnant is a time when you need to pay close attention to your health benefits. TRICARE benefits include prenatal care, labor, delivery care and postpartum care. If you are eligible for TRICARE maternity care, there are a few details about the benefit that you need to know.

Eligibility
Any woman eligible for TRICARE benefits may receive maternity care from the first obstetric visit through six weeks after delivery.

Referrals and Authorizations
If you think you are pregnant, or you know you are currently expecting, contact your primary care manager (PCM) immediately to consult with them on your options. If your assigned network PCM does not specialize in obstetrics or gynecology (OB/GYN), then your PCM will need to refer your care to a network specialist. Obstetric services that are referred to the network are approved as a “global” (beginning to end) service, beginning with the first prenatal visit and remaining valid until 42 days following delivery. If you intend to deliver in a civilian (non-military) hospital or birthing center, your OB/GYN must obtain a separate authorization for the facility delivery portion of your maternity care. This authorization may be obtained by your OB/GYN physician in your third trimester, or the hospital facility may contact Humana Military at the time of delivery to obtain the authorization. TRICARE Prime beneficiaries and network providers should use network facilities for delivery.

Beneficiaries using TRICARE Standard have the same global maternity benefit as Prime beneficiaries - beginning to end service, beginning with the first prenatal visit and remaining valid until 42 days following delivery. Standard beneficiaries may choose any TRICARE authorized provider for maternity care. TRICARE Standard users are subject to annual deductibles and incur cost-shares for each episode of care. Inpatient hospital costs vary, based on length of stay and sponsor status.

What’s Covered/Not Covered?
TRICARE covers maternity-related treatment based on medical necessity.

TRICARE covers:
• Services and supplies associated with prenatal care, labor, delivery and postpartum care
• Anesthesia for pain management during delivery
• An ultrasound as medically necessary. Determining gender is not considered medically necessary. Maternity ultrasound is covered only with diagnosis and management of conditions that constitute a high-risk pregnancy.
• TRICARE-certified/authorized birthing centers

TRICARE does not cover:
• “Routine” ultrasounds. If a provider or beneficiary wishes to perform a routine ultrasound, it will not be covered in addition to or separate from the global maternity benefit. Beneficiaries can choose to pay for a routine ultrasound separately from their TRICARE benefits.
• Off-label use of FDA-approved drugs for preterm labor.
• Home Uterine Activity Monitoring (HUAM), telephonic transmission of HUAM data or HUAM-related telephonic nurse or physician consultation.
• Lymphocyte or paternal leukocyte immunotherapy for the treatment of recurrent, spontaneous fetal loss.
• Salivary estriol test for preterm labor.
• Personal comfort items such as private rooms and televisions after delivery.

For more information about maternity care, contact Humana Military at 1-800-444-5445.

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