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New Technology

MC4’s niche as the systems integrator, trainer and technical support arm for deployable medical units enables the program to put new technology into warfighters’ hands faster and better. However, delivering emerging capabilities to the battlefield isn’t easy. MC4 must simultaneously upgrade and sustain current systems throughout the combat zone.

By working with industry, defense partners and the user community, MC4 meets this challenge head-on. MC4’s new technology initiative aims to continuously deliver improved system quality, performance and capabilities in what has been an emerging and urgent requirement on the front lines for years.

New Technology image
“Not only are we deploying new and improved technology, but we’re doing it smarter and faster.”
--- November 2010

Lt. Col. William Geesey
MC4 Product Manager
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Background



Engineering systems to support ever-changing, rapidly growing needs of medical units providing health care to Soldiers is paramount to MC4’s success. MC4 delivers on average 2.5 major system upgrades per year, not including system patches and post deployment system support updates. The program also actively participates in functional and testing working groups, relaying customer feedback to developers while evaluating the next generation of hardware and software.


Challenges



Logistically coordinating the upgrade of thousands of IT systems that vary by unit size, use, location, configuration and network is a challenge for any material fielder. But paired with battlefield environments, and ensuring hundreds of applications and patches properly integrate without breaking a system or hampering a unit’s mission is a feat unique to MC4’s mission.

Additionally, MC4 works with a variety of commercial and government off-the-shelf software, along with Army-specific apps from a variety of software developers. To complicate matters, the battlefield environment is difficult to reproduce in a lab.

While the focus remains on current operating systems, MC4 must remain cutting edge and ready itself for the future. As such, MC4 serves as the customer’s advocate and conduit for new technology. MC4 taps directly into the user community to learn how MC4 systems are being used so improvements can be made, all the while adhering to Army network and system information assurance requirements.


Way Ahead



The way ahead for MC4's new technology changes as new technologies emerge. Today, telemedicine, point-of-injury recording, smart devices, and fielding new apps and hardware remain at the forefront. Continued involvement and participation in the Army's Network Integration Evaluation events will also help MC4 deliver the power of health information technology to deployable medical units. Keep track of new or emerging initiatives via MC4 PM's blog focused on new technology.

Objectives



The objectives of this initiative include:

  • Improve system quality by continuously improving the testing process through automation and best business processes
  • Improve system performance through close coordination with the Army Golden Master, and constant evaluation and implementation of state-of-the-art commercial off-the-shelf technologies
  • Improve system functional capabilities by developing a technology roadmap, developing a technology transition plan for each candidate technology and conducting technology transition integration product teams

Successes




Quick Facts


  • MC4 fields system release packages and post deployment system support upgrades to support electronic medical record (EMR), medical logistics (MEDLOG), and medical command and control (C2) missions for Army tactical units
  • MC4 integrates and fields an average of 2.5 software upgrades and dozens of patches a year

Commanders


  • Better-equipped to track, record and query medically-relevant data

Systems Administrators


  • Improved system use and fewer trouble tickets

End Users


  • New, improved technology to track and share critical medical information

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