In September, I completed a six-week trip throughout Iraq. I met with commanders, providers and systems support personnel to get their take on the use and support of MC4 in their treatment facilities.
I also spoke with providers and brigade surgeons representing more than 25 battalion aid stations or other level I facilities in Iraq. Every one of them said that their staff used MC4. Some locations didn’t have network connectivity to automatically transmit patient encounters, but they still captured the information via MC4.
This level of system use is a significant improvement over what I discovered during my trip to theater earlier this year. At that time, about 50 percent of the level I facilities used MC4 to document care. I believe the heightened use of the system is the result of local command emphasis and enforcement of the 2008 policy mandating the use of MC4.
I also gained a unique perspective on the true importance of charting at the lowest level of care. A physician assistant at a battalion aid station relayed to me that for every 100 Soldiers he treated at his level I, approximately 10 might be seen a level II facility for additional care. Of the 10 seen at a level II, about two receive follow-on care at a level III facility. Thus, most of the lasting injuries are first treated at the first level of care, reinforcing the importance of digitally and accurately charting injuries at level I.
Soldiers, such as Master Sgt. Wynton Hodges, continue to benefit from this documentation. When they return to the states and require follow-on care, as well as apply for VA medical benefits, they have the necessary data.