FORT RILEY, Kansas  –   When Tiana Winokur first arrived at Fort Riley as an active-duty Army spouse, she struggled to figure out the healthcare system.

Despite attending briefings on various topics for new families, she felt a gap in healthcare orientation. She was left with questions about the services available at Irwin Army Community Hospital, the process for registering her children, and the steps required to establish care.

Even more challenging was navigating the specialty care network. It took two years for Winokur to understand the off-post referral processes and the travel reimbursement resources available for specialty appointments in Kansas City.

"Permanent Change of Station transitions are inherently stressful, and having a more robust, early introduction to the hospital would have significantly eased those anxieties," Winokur said.

Today, she is a co-chair of the hospital’s Patient & Family Partnership Council. Drawing from her own early frustrations, the PFPC is providing hospital tours for new patients to spare them the same confusion.

“Acknowledging these historical communication gaps is exactly why the PFPC is working so diligently today,” Winokur said. “To ensure new families receive this critical, empowering information from day one.”

The tours enhance the patient’s experience by introducing families to the hospital before they need care. Instead of just showing people where clinics are located, the guides explain how to use those services and highlight benefits families might not have considered.

While digital maps and online resources are helpful, Winokur said that there is no substitute for personal experience.

“Ultimately, seeing the check-in kiosks, understanding local workflows, and identifying physical patient amenities firsthand equips military families with the environmental and operational literacy they need to manage their healthcare with confidence,” Winokur said.

The tours are tailored to address the unique unknowns that accompany an Army move, regardless of a family's experience level.

Families who are new to the Army will find a welcoming environment to ask basic questions about how Military Treatment Facilities work. More seasoned families who have navigated MTFs for years will find the walk-through highlights the unique, localized systems and specific capabilities of IACH that differ from previous assignments.

“Navigating a new medical facility and understanding the full scope of available services can be challenging,” Winokur said. “By streamlining wayfinding and reducing navigational confusion, the tours empower patients, build their confidence, and ensure they feel comfortable accessing the care they need.”

Guided tours of Irwin Army Community Hospital take place on the third Thursday of every month at 1 p.m. (1300 hours). The next upcoming tour is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20. No registration or sign-ups are required. Just lace up your walking shoes and show up.

If you cannot make the Aug. 20 date, check the Irwin Army Community Hospital Facebook page under the “Events” tab to find future monthly tour dates.