The Gateway

When I’m passionate about something, I don’t hold back. I thought I’d take this opportunity to address what seems to be a well-documented case of intestinal issues among Soldiers in deployed environments. Having been to numerous countries on countless tours with the Army, I can attest to the fact that, yes, diarrhea happens.

Why is this relevant to MC4? Since 2006, Col. William Grimes, former TF 62 commander, has been advocating the importance of proper medical C2 in the combat zone. He cites examples of how utilizing MC4 data in Iraq enabled him to quickly switch a sports medicine doctor for an internal medicine specialist to address an outbreak of diarrhea—a trend he says otherwise would have taken weeks to identify.

Most recently, the 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division in Iraq described how they’ve been using MC4 to track and analyze disease non-battle injuries (DNBI), such as diarrhea and food borne illnesses.

Historically, issues such as these have been the leading cause of crippled units. It is widely thought that it contributed significantly to Rommel’s Afrika Korps defeat in World War II.

Currently, the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical
Sciences (AFRIMS), in Bangkok, Thailand, uses MC4 systems to document Soldiers’ occupational health care. We look forward to continued partnership with AFRIMS, furthering the Army’s research and monitoring of DNBI outbreaks throughout Southwest Asia.

My point—outbreaks of infectious diarrhea are important to medical commands because they are often symptoms of other issues, like dirty water, unsanitary cooking facilities or poor hygiene. Identifying the sources of these symptoms can mean the difference between a ready and fit unit, and one that is quickly incapacitated to the point where they are unable to accomplish their mission objectives.

Other examples of where using MC4 helped commanders with their medical C2 responsibilities include:

• 2009: 3rd MDSC identifying and tracking possible H1N1 cases occurring throughout Kuwait
• 2008: AMEDD improves helmet gear and body armor based on wound patterns and point-of-injury medical assessments
• 2008: 79th Medical Squadron in Iraq identifies vehicular rollover injuries resulting in equipment training deficiencies
• 2008: TF 261 identifies varied levels of TBI associated with increased incidents from ground travel; treats chicken pox outbreak within local force population
• 2005: Maj. Gen. (R) Elder Granger identifies CSH blood supply error, fully-implements MC4 making 86th CSH first fully-paperless MTF in Iraq

Keep this in mind the next time your unit deploys with MC4 systems. The cumulative medical data captured among your Soldiers may help identify a larger, more important issue that lies below.

The DOD recently mandated that all Service members be inoculated to protect against the H1N1 virus. In Afghanistan, the Air Force is making use of the MC4 system to keep track of the spike in vaccinations.

Staff Sgt. Jennifer Wollersheim, an Air Force immunization technician deployed to Balad, Afghanistan, provides immunizations to approximately 100 Service members every day and charts the information in MC4. Without this documentation, it’s possible that Service members would need to take additional time away from their duty to receive the inoculation again.

This is another example of how the data captured in EMR systems helps to eliminate duplicate procedures, as well as better maintain availability levels of the fighting force. DHIMS is currently working to integrate the MC4 EMR applications with each of the services medical readiness reporting systems. We look forward to the improvement to the system.

Times have changed since we last supported disaster relief efforts. In 2005, MC4 arrived on the scene in New Orleans, introducing a new EMR system to the 14th Combat Support Hospital assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force-Katrina mission. Two weeks ago, when the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division got the call for Haiti, they deployed with their own MC4 systems in hand.

Last year, the 2nd BCT Consolidated Aid Station at Fort Bragg became the first of its kind to implement MC4 use in garrison, adopting the "train as you fight" model. When the 2nd BCT got the call for Haiti, MC4 personnel immediately contacted the brigade surgeon and deploying units of the brigade to ensure they had everything they needed for deployment.

When MC4 inquired whether the brigade would require pre-deployment training, they replied that there was no need as their paratroopers used the system every day. That’s the way it is supposed to work! MC4 will continue to monitor additional unit deployments in support of Haiti and is ready to provide additional systems, training and support as needed.