FORT DETRICK, Md., July 17, 2007 – The electronic medical recording efforts on the battlefield expanded to the U.S. Army's 2nd Infantry Division (ID) in Korea, which recently began using the Army's Medical Communication for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) system to digitally document patient records and reorder medical supplies for the first time.

“MC4 will afford us a unique opportunity to record patient encounters – both in garrison and in the field – and permanently capture that data for bio-statistical analysis,” said MAJ Andrew Fletcher, Brigade Surgeon, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT), 2nd ID. “It will make our daily workload immediately available for review and help justify our continuously changing needs for personnel, supplies, equipment and pharmaceuticals.”

MAJ Fletcher manages healthcare operations for the brigade and commands more than 4,200 personnel as the senior licensed medical provider. “Initially there will be a transition period from paper to electronic documentation. As we have learned with transitioning our clinics from paper to AHLTA, I believe patient encounters will be executed more quickly and efficiently.”

MC4's training and fielding efforts began June 6, with onsite support personnel educating more than 730 providers and equipping them with 785 systems, including ruggedized handhelds, laptops, servers and printers.

“Our junior soldiers have grown up with computers and they are eager to use the hardware and software deployed by MC4,” MAJ Fletcher said. “Since the 1st HBCT is the only unit in Korea that has separate aid stations, one of our main goals with MC4 is to provide the 18th Medical Command with patient information on a routine basis. Prior to MC4 we would have to accomplish this by fabricating spreadsheets based on paper medical records. This was very time consuming, inaccurate and fairly inaccessible to other agencies outside of Korea.”

Other units contributing to the digital medical recording effort in Korea include the 18th Medical Command, 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and the 8th Army.

“The continued expansion of the digital medical recording mission brings Military medical forces one big step forward in meeting their promise to deployed Service members,” said LTC Edward Clayson, MC4 Commander and Product Manager. “Taking the necessary steps to create a comprehensive, electronic medical history will provide those returning from battle with the information they need to receive continued treatment at home. You can't put a price tag on that.”

Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) integrates, fields and supports a medical information management system for Army tactical medical forces, enabling a comprehensive, lifelong electronic medical record for all Service members, and enhancing medical situational awareness for operational commanders. Headquartered at Fort Detrick, Md., MC4 is under the oversight of the Army Program Executive Office, Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS) at Fort Belvoir, Va.

For more information on MC4, visit www.mc4.army.mil.