Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4)
What is it?
MC4 is the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) first comprehensive battlefield medical recording system. MC4 is a ruggedized system-of-systems that integrates, fields, and supports a comprehensive medical information system, enabling lifelong electronic medical records, streamlined medical logistics, and enhanced situational awareness for Army operational forces. Comprised of joint software along with commercial and government off-the-shelf products, MC4 provides the tools needed to digitally record and transfer critical medical data from the foxhole to medical treatment facilities worldwide. MC4 has enabled the capture of more than 16.5 million electronic patient encounters in the combat zone since 2003. MC4 has also trained 61,000 medical staff and commanders and fielded 49,000 systems to 750 units with medical personnel in both the active and reserve components
What has the Army done?
MC4 completed a major software upgrade in early 2011, fielding Electronic Medical Record version 2.1.2.1 to all operational Army medical forces. The upgrade provided enhanced traumatic brain injury reporting and documentation capabilities in response to a Joint Staff and Central Command urgent need. The capability was provided three weeks ahead of schedule and $500,000 under budget. The upgrades also made it easier for deployed facilities to digitally manage their medical supplies and better track in-transit patients and equipment.
In mid-2011, MC4 fielded an innovative technology solution to digitally connect remote Soldiers with mental health specialists in support of the Army’s suicide prevention campaign. By electronically connecting at-risk Soldiers with mental health providers, MC4 facilitated faster recognition and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and other mental health issues. This telehealth capability significantly improved Army mental health providers’ ability to conduct private, virtual medical consultations with at-risk Soldiers who were often deployed to remote combat and forward operating bases. The MC4 technology was fielded within six weeks of requirement identification for less than $50,000.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?
MC4 plans to expand the use and capabilities of its systems to include a comprehensive telehealth suite of applications to remotely connect Soldiers in theater with military health care services and improve documentation of traumatic brain injuries and point-of-injury care.
MC4 will continue integrating its systems on Army networks to improve system security, access, and technical support, as well as expand MC4 use to garrison battalion aid stations and large-scale training exercises. This will serve to improve unit readiness and proficiency with MC4 prior to deployment. MC4 will actively prepare for integrating its capabilities with the Army’s wireless mobile technologies and future information architectures.
Why is it important to the Army?
Deployable medical forces use the MC4 system to gain quick, accurate access to patient histories and forward casualty resuscitation information, and to deliver health care services remotely through MC4 telehealth capabilities. Prior to MC4, documentation of Soldiers’ deployed health care was inadequate. When documented, medical records were often lost or indecipherable, Soldiers endured repeated tests, continuity of care suffered, and commanders lacked data need to make fully-informed medical decisions.
MC4 also provides units with automated tools to facilitate patient tracking, medical reporting, and medical logistical support. Data captured via MC4 populates databases used to make scientific and operational improvements to combat equipment and medical treatment techniques. In addition, combatant commanders utilize the MC4 system to access near real-time medical surveillance data, resulting in enhanced command and control and medical situational awareness.
Most importantly, MC4 is helping deployed Soldiers. By equipping deployed medical units with automated resources, MC4 helps ensure Soldiers have a secure, accessible, lifelong electronic medical record which results in better-informed health care providers and easier access to Veterans Affairs medical benefits. The Army Deputy Surgeon General reported that 70 percent of the Soldiers seen through MC4’s telemedicine capability would not have received services otherwise. The Vice Chief of Staff, Army has since directed rapid expansion of the capability.
MC4 remains the most widely-used, comprehensive medical information management system on the battlefield today.
As of: 1 December 2011
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