Commanders need up-to-date surveillance data to properly monitor and allocate personnel and supplies throughout their area of responsibility. Having the ability to review and filter near real-time medical data can reduce the time required to make these decisions.
The web-based application Joint Medical Workstation (JMeWS) gives commanders the ability to view encounter data, disease and non-battle injury rates and analysis, as well as symptom-based information. Patient data can be monitored for abnormalities and alerts can be set when data exceeds pre-determined ranges.
While many commanders utilize JMeWS to enhance their decision making on the battlefield, they also understand that the surveillance data is only as good as the data entered by medical personnel at medical treatments facilities (MTFs).
During previous rotations, Col. William Grimes, former commander of Task Force 61, and Lt. Col. Darlene McCurdy, former commander of TF 146, established and improved business processes so that critical information was captured uniformly in their MTFs. The improved data fed into JMeWs, providing a more accurate snapshot of events for these commands.
A similar endeavor is currently under way in Iraq by TF 44. As I mentioned last month, the command instituted a policy mandating the use of MC4 systems to capture all outpatient and inpatient data. The effort will pay dividends as commanders gain a clearer view of their medical landscape.
Commanders wanting to become better versed in JMeWS can contact their local MC4 country site lead to schedule classroom training or individual, over-the-shoulder training. Additionally, MC4 offers JMeWS computer-based training modules to help users learn at their own pace.
In the coming months, I will travel to theater to get a first-hand account of the great progress commands, such as the TF 44, are making by incorporating JMeWS into every aspect of their medical operations.