FORT RILEY, Kansas  –   Beginning November 1, Irwin Army Community Hospital will roll out a new program aimed at making it easier for patients to access same-day appointments in our Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH). Each morning at 7:30 a.m., IACH will post the number of same-day appointments available that day on the hospital’s Facebook page, giving patients an opportunity to secure last-minute openings for medical care without needing to go off-post.

This addresses a common challenge faced by many patients — difficulty getting a timely appointment with their provider. Each morning, as the hospital’s day begins, appointment availability is assessed based on the schedules of our providers, which cannot be finalized until the start of the day. By making this information available to patients as soon as possible, IACH aims to improve access to care for the Fort Riley community.

Opting for same-day care at IACH's PCMH offers numerous benefits compared to visiting an off-post urgent care center. At IACH, patients are seen by providers who have access to their full medical history and are integrated into their long-term care plan. This continuity of care ensures that patients receive treatment from a team that understands their unique medical needs, as opposed to receiving one-off care from an urgent care provider who may not have the full picture of their health.

This initiative is an experimental trial to assess whether posting same-day appointments on Facebook is an effective way of improving patient awareness and access. We understand that healthcare needs can arise unexpectedly, and this program is designed to provide real-time solutions that benefit both patients and providers.

Stay tuned for updates, and we look forward to serving you.