FORT DETRICK, Md. — The latest software release for MC4 systems, MC4 Electronic Medical Record (EMR) version 2.1.1.1, offers users and technical support personnel numerous improvements compared to the currently deployed software, version 1.5. Version 2 includes enhanced security, improved functionality and new reporting capabilities.
Enhanced Security
Using EMR version 2, MC4 laptops and standalone clients will utilize Windows XP, while level II and III AHLTA-T servers will operate on Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition. The new platform provides enhanced security features and aligns MC4 systems with current Army network requirements. This also completes the migration of all of the applications on the MC4 system from Windows 2000 to the aforementioned platforms.
Improved Functionality
AHLTA-T, the outpatient application, and AHLTA-Mobile, the point-of-injury care application, will now use TMIP Framework—the same communications protocol used for TC2, the inpatient application. Previously, outpatient records may have taken hours to populate the Theater Medical Data Store (TMDS) database. Using TMIP Framework, AHLTA-T and AHLTA-Mobile can now transmit data to TMDS within minutes, providing faster visibility of outpatient records using MC4.
The upgrade also includes a Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) extract that provides authoritative demographics and reduces the data entry required to enter a new patient in the system. AHLTA-T also shares patient demographic data with TC2, reducing dual entry.
A newly added “drug allergy” and “drug interaction” feature in AHLTA-T will save medical staff time researching patient allergies and adverse drug interactions. A pop-up warning notifies medical personnel of medication interactions and patient allergies, such as latex or penicillin.
The addition of Alternative Input Method (AIM) forms in AHLTA-T offer users greater efficiency in collecting patient data. AIM forms provide templates for specific encounters allowing staff to electronically capture patient care in an easy-to-use graphic user interface.
Another enhancement to AHLTA-T is the inclusion of simple inpatient capabilities. Clinicians at level II treatment facilities with the capability of holding patients up to 72 hours now benefit from electronic charting in one program. Previously, the functions for this level of care were relegated to TC2, thus unavailable to level II facilities. Level II-plus and level III facilities should still use TC2 for all inpatient documentation.
New Reporting Capabilities
The commercial off-the-shelf reporting program Business Objects 6.5.1 provides users with new reporting capabilities. Pulling data from outpatient records in the local database, staff using Business Objects can mine data for numerous status reports, selecting from 20 pre-made reports, as well as develop customized ad hoc reports.
Pros and Cons
For users, the move to the new EMR suite will be seamless. The software is backward compatible, meaning local databases of patient data and user accounts will remain intact. Previously entered patient demographic data and allergies will remain accessible during the migration to the new software suite.
The speed with which data is accessed, from screen to screen, remains unchanged. While providers will have the ability to import most AIM forms into AHLTA-T, not all AHLTA forms will import seamlessly into AHLTA-T. Some AIM forms will require modification during the import process.
While some dual entry will be eliminated, since AHLTA-T can share patient demographics with TC2, TC2 cannot share demographics with AHLTA-T. Additionally, patient allergy information must be entered into both applications separately.
During the migration, unit level administrators (ULAs) and systems administrators (SAs) will need to scrub local databases to remove extraneous entries. The move to the new software suite generates redundant clinics and user accounts in local repositories.
MC4 will have multiple technical support teams traveling throughout theater to ensure a smooth and well-coordinated transition to the new EMR software.