In a new partnership to equip U.S. Army Guard with electronic medical record capabilities for disaster relief missions, the Army’s MC4 program will provide train-the-trainer programs to guardsman to better prepare them for contingency operations.

In November, members of the 256th Combat Support Hospital (CSH), a reserve unit, collectively trained together for the first time at Fort Lewis, Wash. Utilizing MC4 systems, 200 reservists readied for their split-based mission during a four-day field exercise.

Surgical teams treated Maj. Andy Ingalsbe at FOB Sharana and Bagram Airfield. They also digitally documented Ingalsbe’s care in computer systems fielded and supported by the Army’s Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) program. His digital medical history helped physicians at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., piece together his traumatic story.

Electronic Medical Record Systems Updates to the Battlefield Include New Medical Supply Interface, Patient and Equipment Tracking Tools

18 more medical aid stations in the U.S. Army garrison began using MC4, typically a deployed-only Army electronic medical records system, to digitally capture medical data in the U.S., making the total transition of aid stations to 56 to date.

The 31st Combat Support Hospital became the first Army hospital to use an automated medical logistics (MEDLOG) system, called DMLSS, in Afghanistan. The move to the digital system has saved the hospital staff time and improved their ability to order, track and maintain the influx of critical medical supplies.

Using a major software upgrade to their medical records system, an Army hospital in Afghanistan leveraged Lean Six Sigma tools to streamline patient documentation, reduce steps for staff and save time.

The digital medical recording system used to document Soldier care in the combat zone has migrated to the Afghanistan computer network. The migration improves system functionality, security and customer support, enabling MC4 technicians to identify and fix computer issues remotely.

Researchers in Thailand are using the military’s battlefield electronic medical recording system, MC4, to track occupational health records in their clinic and may leverage the system for further studies on infectious diseases.

As a former Army medical operations leader at a detainee camp in Iraq, U.S. Col. Roman Bilynsky acknowledges the importance of the deployed medical recording system (MC4) in helping military physicians keep quality checks in place for patient care.

Master Sgt. Bruce Mann is able to process medical claims faster now that he has digital access to deployed medical records captured on the battlefield via the Army’s MC4 system.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Army’s somewhat silent partner in equipping units with new technology. It has supported more than 10,000 MC4 systems and its new test lab will deliver systems quicker and more efficiently to deployed medical forces.