Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Kirk is open from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. On holidays, weekends and evening hours, you may contact the Military Health System Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273), Option 1 for medical advice, urgent care authorizations, or self-care education from a registered nurse. Should you have a true emergency, you should go directly to the Emergency Room of the nearest hospital.

You can schedule an appointment by phone: 410-278-5475 or 866-756-5475, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
You can also schedule through the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal.

We offer early morning appointments starting at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday for active duty service members.
Kirk is closed weekends and federal holidays.

Referral to a specialist is done through your Primary Care Manager (PCM). If you need to see a specialist, please make an appointment with your PCM to discuss your concerns and consider your options.

TDY & activated Reservists and their dependents require a copy of their military orders to be eligible for medical care at Kirk. There is no place in the electronic health record to indicate that a service member has been activated, therefore both soldiers and their family members will need to show copies of the orders for every visit requiring care.

Yes. The Military Health System Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273), Option 1 for medical advice, urgent care authorizations, or self-care education from a registered nurse is available 24 hours / 7 days a week.

With only a few exceptions, a referral from your primary care provider (PCM) or from Kirk (Triage Nurse or Staff Duty personnel) is absolutely necessary. Without a referral, you will be responsible for Point of Service Charges and possibly the full charge of the bill. Emergency Rooms do not require a referral.

The fax number used depends on what documents you need to fax. For:

• Referrals received, imaging results, results from a referral visit, specialty care visit notes fax Referral Management at 1-877-811-2184
• Urgent care / ER referrals and records fax Medical Records at 410-278-6177
• Kirk's Occupational Health fax 410-278-1913 
• Edgewood Occupational Health fax 410-436-309
• Behavioral Health fax 410-278-1766

1. Register your child with DEERS,
2. Go to Patient Administration and the TRICARE Office.

If you want your child to have TRICARE Prime, they MUST be enrolled within 60 days from birth. Otherwise your child will be defaulted into TRICARE Standard.

Surveys have shown that picking up your medication prior to 10 a.m. greatly shortens your wait time.

Call 911 immediately.

No.

No.

Call or visit your nearest urgent care facility if you have a non-life-threatening health issue. If you have a life-threatening health issue, call 911 immediately.

You can speak directly to a health professional using the Military Health System Nurse Advice Line to assist you with your health concern by calling 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273).

1. Fax or drop off paperwork to Medical Records 410-278-6177
2. Schedule a follow up appointment with your Primary Care Manager 

No, OT is another specialty that deals mainly with the upper extremity focusing on the elbow, wrist, and hand joints. If the physician gives you a consult for OT, the physical therapist will generate a consult for you to be seen by a civilian occupational therapist.

No, due to our limited size and resources we do not have a pool for aquatic therapy. If your physician is requesting that you attend an aquatic physical therapy program the therapist will generate a consult for you to be seen by a civilian physical therapy clinic that offers aquatic therapy.

No, you have to go to Walter Reed or have a referral/approval from TRICARE to see a civilian orthotist to have custom made orthotics made.