The Gateway

Earlier this month, a team of MC4 clinicians traveled to Iraq and Kuwait. They met with commanders and providers to discuss MC4 system use and training. Their visit provided users an outlet to share their experiences and frustrations with the system in terms fellow clinicians could understand. From this positive exchange with the user community, I plan on looking deeper into how we can better support their requirements. I will also share their detailed feedback with the material software developer, and our partner, DHIMS.

The visit also confirmed my thoughts to expand MC4's clinical staff. As such, I expect to announce a new medical director or clinical staff chief later this year. I also plan to add additional theater support clinicians who will be required to spend up to 180 days in theater to interface with users.

Increasing the staff in this area allows MC4 to expand our support for medical C2 elements and level III facilities. It also allows MC4 to include clinical staff members on future internal quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC) visits to theater where we evaluate the performance of our own professionals and gauge compliance with MC4-related policies.

In February, MC4 supported the field training exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand. U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) and Reserve units used the EMR systems in three treatment facilities to document more than 150 encounters during the 12-day exercise. Every encounter flowed to TMDS.

MC4's exercise support helps units to function independently of MC4 in the deployed environment, similarly to the 2nd BCT in Haiti. Cobra Gold offered realistic training for the clinicians and afforded continuity of care for the Service members participating in exercise play.

MC4 has already provided pre-deployment classroom training [a.k.a. New Equipment Training (NET)] to approximately 90 percent of all active Army units, as well as many Reserve and National Guard units. Some units received NET training multiple times in support of multiple deployments.

With most MC4 users gaining some level of knowledge on MC4 through NET or use in the field, it’s become evident that we need to move away from a "one size fits all" version of basic classroom training.

Such was the case in 2009 when I set the program’s strategic crosshairs on expanding use of the system in garrison battalion aid stations and in medical readiness exercises. It’s time to stop doing both and to focus on what provides most value.

Users require better hands-on training. They also want instruction tailored to their specialties and roles in treatment facilities. Earlier this month, Col. John Scott, deputy commander for clinical services for Task Force 1 Medical in Iraq, offered suggestions to improve MC4 training in garrison, at RSO&I and in the combat zone. We’ll examine his feedback to see where changes can be made.

The 82nd Airborne 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) and the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) have been the first to showcase a return on investment in the MC4 "train as you fight" effort. As I mentioned last month, the 2nd BCT declined pre-deployment training as the unit prepared for the Haiti relief effort because of their proficiency gained through daily use of the system in garrison.

Last year, the 3rd ID made an aggressive move to integrate MC4 systems in their aid stations at Fort Stewart. Col. Scott says their commitment in garrison has paid off on the frontlines. It’s his observation that when the 3rd ID arrived in theater they were better prepared to use and support the EMR system compared to units that did not use the system in garrison.

The "train as you fight" effort will gain momentum in 2010, as we continue to field calls from units requesting the system in garrison aid stations for EMR, MEDLOG and command and control (C2) purposes. MC4 needs to identify these opportunities and better allocate garrison resources to support these efforts.

The same commitment on our end must be made to support deploying units during medical readiness exercises. MC4 involvement at every stage helps system users solidify business practices and leads to better performance during future missions.

Last year, the 14th CSH underwent a series of exercises at Fort Benning, Ga., in preparation for their current mission in Iraq. Col. Scott reported that the 14th CSH arrived in theater better prepared than facilities that did not incorporate MC4 into pre-deployment scenarios.

In addition to helping units gain hands-on experience, we are expanding our library of products to augment training classes and scenarios. In the coming months, we will have new Quick Reference Guides to encompass AHLTA-T and TMDS.

I will continue to keep you posted on these training endeavors in future blogs.