MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Calif. -- For Marine Forces Reserve corpsmen slated to deploy to combat zones, the days of hauling around large bins of medical and dental paper records are now quickly numbered, thanks to recent developments in the military medical community.
Several corpsmen with 4th Marine Logistics Group joined the ranks of those who have been trained to use the MC70 Symbol Mobile Device, after attending a class conducted by instructors from Multi-Service Group International and the Space and Naval Warfare Center June 14 at the Mountain Warfare Training Center base chapel.
The MC70 Symbol Mobile Device is similar to a PDA and uses the ALHTA computer application, which allows corpsmen to upload and store patient information electronically, eliminating the need for paper records. The device is widely used by many branches of the military, including the ‘active-duty side’ of the Marine Corps, and is now working it’s way across MARFORRES, primarily among corpsmen slated to deploy to Afghanistan.
The device allows corpsmen in the field to document injuries received by Marines in combat, as well as basic ‘sick-call ailments’ and then easily upload the data directly into a computer using the ALHTA program upon arriving at a medical facility in the ‘rear.’
The ALHTA program then allows the data to be uploaded to the Central Data Repository, which stores all military health records. This enables military and Veteran’s Association hospitals to access patients past medical history, even if they have never visited the facility before.
“The ALHTA network is connected to hospital’s in real time so your medical records, which eliminates the problem of lost or ineligible records,” said Steven Palmer, a health information systems manager with Multi-Service Group International.
According to Palmer, all combat-zone bound corpsmen will receive the training, with the eventual goal of completely eliminating the use of paper health records throughout the military.
The device, in addition to holding the same information as any paper medical records, also contains electronic references with instruction on treatment for a variety of situations, including biological, chemical and radiation attacks as well as simple ailments, such as animal or insect bites; lightening the load for corpsmen.
“If your going to theater (combat zone) you’ll get this,” said Vic Ervin, a systems engineer with Space and Naval Warfare Center, explaining the future of the device. “We want the name (MC70 Symbol) to be as well known as ‘SRB’ or ‘M16.”
Petty Officer 2nd Class Rigel Martinez, a corpsmen with 4th MLG, explained the benefits of the training, from a corpsmen perspective.
“The class was pretty good,” said the Jacksonville, Fla.-native and full-time college student. “The device is pretty self-explanatory; it’s actually a lot like playing a video game. The device makes the process easier as it practically fills itself out. The less paperwork we have to do the better, as it helps our patients.”
The training was conducted as part of exercise Javelin Thrust 2010.
Javelin Thrust is an annual exercise conducted by MARFORRES in several different locations in the Southwest. This year, more than 4,500 Marines from ground combat, logistical and air wing units will be participating in the training, which will resemble a Marine Air Ground Task Force operating in Afghanistan, in terms of both terrain and mission objectives.