The Gateway

Mobile electronic devices (MEDs) are a hot topic in the Army right now. While the Mobile Handheld Common Environment Working Group is actively working to determine the requirements for the Army’s ideal MED, MC4 is staying engaged. 

Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) is working on two separate devices; a mounted and hand-held device that will support deployed Soldiers. The Joint Battle Command – Platform (JBC-P) mounted device contains an electronic casualty report (ECR), an application that captures information similar to the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) card. MC4 is currently assisting with the development of medical apps that mimic current AHLTA-Mobile capabilities, such as the TCCC card and the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation (MACE) form that could run on the JBC-P hand-held device.

There’s value in having the TCCC card available on a MED that would allow any Soldier the ability to handle and document care. Point-of-injury (POI) care and even buddy care for that matter are critical to an injured Soldier’s lifelong medical record. If we can provide the means for a medic or fellow Soldier to document injuries as soon as a possible, there’s a greater chance that pertinent information will make it into the Soldier’s electronic medical record (EMR).

We are actively collaborating in preparation for the Capability Integration Evaluation (CIE) 13.1, formerly known as Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 13.1, later this year to demo a mobile medical app on the JBC-P device. MC4 is in discussions with various other offices, such as the Directorate of Combat and Doctrine Development (DCDD), Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG), and Connecting Soldiers through Digital Applications (CSDA) to name a few, to determine what effective role MC4 can play in the way ahead. Wherever possible, we will assist our partners in successfully capturing electronic health information on various platforms and uploading them into the MC4 system.

Handhelds will also serve as great platforms to access other resources. Since releasing the Commander’s Guide to MC4 available on ATN2GO, there’s a greater interest in accessing MC4 references on an MED. We are also working to determine how the Army Marketplace could serve as a home for MC4 references. We are evaluating what we need to do in terms of establishing business processes, determining roles and responsibilities and testing those processes with approved references and medical mobile apps before making them available to customers.

In this day in age with social media, everyone is connected to everyone else in some way. I don’t profess to be an expert on social media. Quite frankly there are too many of them to keep up with. However, there’s no question that social media has been helpful in connecting MC4 to people and organizations like never before.

MC4 is on Twitter, Flickr and YouTube and these platforms have served us well in communicating to our customers in the field, as well as to partner programs and organizations.

You can follow us on Twitter to keep up with the latest news stories and blogs we’re writing or simply sharing, or just direct message us if you need info or support. Flickr and YouTube have been great for dual purposes; they making our photos and videos searchable and mineable, and they’re helping to tell Soldiers’ stories in interesting ways. If you use the MC4 system and want to use any of these channels to share your story or to help you in your mission, let us know. We’re always looking for ways to improve.

MC4 isn’t on Facebook, yet, but we can be! If The Gateway were more mobile-ready, would that be easier and more convenient for you? Tell us more about how you use social media and where you would like to connect with us in the virtual world by answering these 5 questions. If you haven’t already, check out our blogs posted regularly on The Gateway, milBlog, and join our most active discussion forum on the Army Medical Department Lessons Learned page on milBook.

A new policy was just issued by U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) last week about battalion aid station (BAS) health care documentation in garrison. From now on, all BASs in garrison are required to electronically document health care performed in garrison, during field training exercises and CTC rotations.

This is significant because the EMR system ensures every Soldier has a lifelong medical record. The Office of the Surgeon General conducted a survey of the wartime mission, capabilities, organizational structure, and mission essential personnel and equipment requirements assigned to FORSCOM’s eight combat divisions and separate battalions and brigades. According to the 80 BAS leaders who responded to the survey, 30 percent of their Soldiers had their health care documented either on paper or not at all in garrison. In this technology-driven world, that’s unacceptable.

I understand that in some instances providers lose access to the Internet and then turn to paper records. What’s great about the MC4 system is even when there is no connectivity; providers can ensure the paper records make it into a Soldier’s EMR by scanning in the documents, or simply document using MC4's store-and-forward function.

The policy also influences medical logistics operations. Garrison aid stations are required to use the DMLSS Customer Assistance Module (DCAM) to process all class VIII orders. By managing medical material orders electronically, procurement lead time will be reduced.

The FORSCOM Order supports MC4's longstanding Train as you Fight initiative. The time to train up on the MC4 system is in garrison in place of paper and during exercises; not after deploying or in a classroom immediately beforehand. Trying to become familiar with the system in theater has proven futile. Even after a unit is familiar with the system, training exercises help medical personnel hone their skills and maintain familiarity.

We're looking forward to working with aid stations that choose to use MC4 in garrison and getting them set up. Use of MC4 usually includes a VPN connection to your garrison AHLTA server, so you have access to ancillary services at the local medical treatment facility. For information on how to get MC4 in garrison, check out the answers to frequently asked questions and contact your local MC4 region support office.