Army News Service : new medical recording system tracks inpatient care

Defense AT&L, Sept-Oct, 2007

FORT DETRICK, Md. -- The U.S. Expeditionary Medical Facility Kuwait will become the first deployed hospital to gain total visibility of inpatient medical procedures completed on the battlefield this month.

Deployed medical providers will gain the ability to send inpatient healthcare information to a central data repository in the United States, where it can be viewed from anywhere in the world.

The Army's Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) program will field the system, then train EMF Kuwait commanders and medical providers on how to use the software, called TC2, or Theater Medical Information Program Composite Health Care System.

"I'm excited it's coming," said Capt. Daniel Hansen, EMF Kuwait chief of professional services. "This upgrade will give hospitals in theater greater visibility. We'll be able to learn what procedures have taken place at each facility servicemembers visit without the hassle of trying to track down paper records. Servicemembers will know that their doctors have accurate, digital access to records of care and they won't have to reiterate what was done."

To date, users only had worldwide access to outpatient medical information recorded on the battlefield.

"I believe that having this type of visibility will mean better care," Hansen said. "A servicemember recently arrived at our facility after being operated on twice in Iraq due to an improvised explosive device wound. With TC2, his orthopedist will know exactly what was done, potentially saving the servicemember from a redundant operation."

Decision-makers using MC4 systems for medical situational awareness will benefit from the upgrade, as well.

"Commanders will be able to keep track of human resources allocated to inpatient procedures and know that good communication exists between their medical staff and the medical staff at other deployed military treatment facilities," Hansen said.

Upgrades throughout operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom are scheduled to be complete by the end of 2007.

"We've seen the value this system has to servicemembers as they return home and seek care at the VA facilities," said Army Lt. Col. Edward Clayson, MC4's commander and product manager. "Now they can rest assured their complete medical history--inpatient and outpatient--is on hand, and they will receive the benefits and continued care they deserve."

Headquartered at Fort Detrick, Md., MC4 is overseen by the Army Program Executive Office, Enterprise Information Systems at Fort Belvoir, Va.

For more information, visit <www.mc4.army.mil>.