PHA looks out for welfare of members

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Carter
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  If the military is your family, the Preventative Health Assessment cell technicians who administer the PHA would be your parents or guardians. Your health is their first priority and your overall well-being is their main concern.

"During PHAs, (service) members are offered clinical preventative services such as lab work, immunizations, tests, specialty services and so forth," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Muya, 60th Aerospace Medicine Squadron PHA cell NCO in charge.

A PHA is an annual assessment with two main goals: To recommend evidence-based, cost-effective preventative health services and to identify and document potential duty-limiting conditions.

"Members are not deployable without a current PHA," Muya said. "PHAs are an essential part of their individual medical readiness."

Completing the annual PHA requirement is a multi-step process. Members must first complete their WebHA online, accomplish any required CPS items, speak with a PHA technician, and see their primary care manager if they have not done so in the last three years.

"The web-based PHA is convenient for members since they can accomplish them at the comfort of their desk," Muya said. "Web-based PHAs also have algorithms that help identify members who might need urgent health care attention."

In an effort to make the PHA process more efficient as well as reduce the amount of time members spend outside of work and in medical appointments, the 'over-the-phone' PHA process was adopted. If a member does not require any labs, immunizations, or an appointment with a primary care manager, they can complete their annual PHA without ever stepping foot in DGMC. In these cases, only a WebHA and phone call from a PHA technician is required. Members will learn if they are eligible to use the 'over-the-phone' process via phone call or email notification from the PHA clinic.

"Over-the-phone PHAs are quick and cover the same aspects as face-to-face appointments," Muya said. "This eliminates time away from the office and probably additional stress having to deal with traffic."

PHAs are mandatory and required annually under Health Affairs Policy Memo 06-006.

"PHA cell technicians work tirelessly and diligently to support the mission of Travis Air Force Base by ensuring a ready and fit force that is capable of answering the call anywhere in the globe," Muya said. "A job they do with a smile every day."

The Travis Air Force Base PHA office is located at the David Grant Medical Center and the hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information call 423-7800.