WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- The 509th Medical Group is set to launch the Military Health System Genesis, the Department of Defense’s new and innovative Electronic Health Record system.
MHS Genesis will be replacing TRICARE Online which will no longer be serviceable for Whiteman Air Force Base members, and all secure messaging functions will transfer to the new patient portal, April 24, 2021.
MHS Genesis allows users to access all aspects of their care in one system 24/7, including managing appointments and sending messages to their primary care teams. It will also integrate inpatient and outpatient solutions that connect medical and dental information across the continuum of care.
“MHS Genesis allows us as medical professionals to have a single system providing faster access to healthcare information, enabling a more efficient and timely delivery of healthcare,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Mark Reynolds, 509th MDG commander.
MHS Genesis will assist the more than 9.5 million TRICARE beneficiaries, including service members, retirees and dependents, to communicate directly with their Primary Care Manager for more safe, secure and quality care.
Reynolds warned of possible delays users may experience as the roll-out of MHS Genesis continues in waves throughout the DoD until 2023.
“During this time of transition, please note that 509th Medical Group staff members will continue to provide safe, high quality health-care while also receiving training in the new system. From now to the end of August 2021, you can expect to experience reduced appointment availability and longer wait times,” Reynolds said. “In some instances it may be necessary to refer patients off base to ensure timely access to care. While this is unfortunate, it’s necessary to ensure our staff has the time to learn this new system, so we can continue providing the safe, reliable care you’ve come to expect from us.”
“We ask that you book all necessary wellness and annual appointments prior to April 24, 2021, and complete any lab tests, radiology visits, pharmacy refills or renewals,” Reynolds said.
As the new system becomes the primary source of medical health readiness for all branches of service, the gradual implementation will provide reliable healthcare to service members and their families to ensure a more ready force.
In order to avoid delays, the 509th Medical Group recommends users pre-register through the new patient portal at https://patientportal.mhsgenesis.health.mil/ prior to April 24.
Questions and Answers – General
1. What is MHS GENESIS?
MHS GENESIS is the modern electronic health record for the Military Health System (MHS). It’s an enterprise solution supporting a system of healthcare delivery with standardized clinical and business practices. It is also a patient-centric system focusing on quality, safety, and patient outcomes, including readiness.
2. How will MHS GENESIS improve the overall patient-provider experience?
MHS GENESIS offers several advantages over our legacy systems. It will result in faster and better management of chronic, complex, and time-sensitive health conditions; provide automated, real-time clinical decision support for healthcare teams; and increase patient engagement capabilities that allow patients to communicate directly with providers.
3. What impact will MHS GENESIS have on wait times?
When a site transitions to MHS GENESIS, providers and patients can expect to see a short-term increase in wait times as healthcare teams adapt office and clinic practices to new, standardized workflows. Based on industry averages, and the DOD’s experience at Wave TRAVIS, it takes roughly 90 days for healthcare teams to adjust to new MHS GENESIS workflows and return to normal wait times. Over time, providers and patients should expect to see increased efficiencies across all healthcare activities.
4. Will the smaller clinics be using MHS GENESIS?
Yes. MHS GENESIS is scheduled to fully deploy to all military treatment facilities and medical and dental clinics.
5. What will the single, common record do for service members and veterans?
It will ensure that service members from the Department of Defense and United States Coast Guard have a health record that follows them from point of entry into service through veteran status, wherever care is provided.
Beneficiaries
6. Who will benefit from MHS GENESIS?
MHS GENESIS will provide DOD’s 9.5 million beneficiaries with a modern electronic health record that will support the provision of integrated, standardized care across the Military Health System enterprise.
7. When will my facility have MHS GENESIS?
MHS GENESIS is rolling out to all CONUS & OCONUS military treatment facilities as well as medical and dental clinics in a wave model between now and the end of calendar year 2023.
Each site will engage with their local beneficiaries through social media, websites, small meetings, news articles and various other means, ensuring patients are aware of and can access the MHS GENESIS patient portal in a timely fashion. The DHA communications team will augment these campaigns.
8. What will happen to our old EHR files?
Existing electronic health records will continue to be available to providers once a site begins using MHS GENESIS.
9. What should we do with our paper medical records?
DHA recommends keeping personal copies of paper records. If feasible, scan the hardcopy documents to digital, and back up on an external hard drive, ensuring proper physical and digital storage safeguards to protect personal information.
10. What happens when I PCS to/from an MHS GENESIS location?
Providers at all DOD facilities have access to electronic files whether those records are stored in the new health record (MHS GENESIS), existing digital records, or electronic health records from community providers.
Shared Patients
11. Will the VA use the same system?
Yes. DOD, VA, and the U. S. Coast Guard are standing up a single, common electronic health record that will stay with a service member from the time of their enlistment through veteran status.
Patient Portal
12. How do I access my EHR?
Once a patient has a health record in MHS GENESIS (used by providers and available only to sites with the new EHR), he or she can access the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal account using their DS Logon username and password. The patient must have a DS Logon Premium (Level 2) account to view their MHS GENESIS health record. If the patient has an existing DS Logon account, he or she will need to upgrade their account to Premium (Level 2). For upgrade and/or password assistance, visit https://myaccess.dmdc.osd.mil/identitymanagement/help.do.
13. What do I do when I can’t get access to my patient portal?
For support relating to MHS GENESIS issues, please contact: the Global Support Center (GSC) at (800) 600-9332.
14. How and when will I be notified when my location switches to the new patient portal?
Each healthcare site will conduct an extensive communications campaign to inform their local beneficiaries. This campaign will use social media, websites, small meetings, news articles and various other means to engage with their local population. The DHA communications team will augment these campaigns.
15. Will I have access to previous messages with my provider?
A separate vendor runs Tricare Online Patient Portal Secure Messaging (formerly RelayHealth) and the messages do not cross over to MHS GENESIS. It is important for beneficiaries to know that their old TOL Patient Portal Secure Messaging account is still active. They can log into the old system to see all their old archived messages in the "my chart" section of that application. Messages generated in MHS GENESIS should be visible within the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal.
16. What can I do within the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal?
The MHS GENESIS Patient Portal securely connects a patient with their healthcare team and empowers them to become the driver of their health care. With the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal, a patient can:
• Manage primary care medical and dental appointments (in most places)
• Review clinical notes, lab, and test results
• Request prescription renewals - Renewals occur when a prescription has no refills left, or has expired, and the patient needs to continue taking the medication (in this case, healthcare staff evaluate and create a new prescription, if appropriate)
- New prescription renewals are done only through MHS GENESIS
• Exchange secure messages with their healthcare team
• Monitor health information and view their portal profile
• Complete a pre-visit, dental health history questionnaire online
• Look up high-quality, provider-approved health information related to health issues, lab results, and medications
TOL / TRICARE
17. I just got TOL and am finally comfortable with it. Am I required to move over to the new patient portal if I enjoy using the old TOL?
Yes. Once your facility adopts MHS GENESIS, you will still be able to access the TOL Patient Portal. However, all of your new information from MHS GENESIS will only be viewable via the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal.
Cybersecurity
18. What safeguards are in place to protect patient data?
We strive to maintain the most advanced information assurance (IA) capabilities in the world. DOD IA tools and personnel are embedded within the datacenter boundary to ensure the data MHS GENESIS exchanges is monitored, protected, and defended from cyberattacks. We established and maintain continuous cyber assessments. The DOD sets the standard for cybersecurity, and we invested significant time and resources to satisfy those requirements.
Patient Portal Questions and Answers
Information for beneficiaries regarding the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal
1. What is the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal?
The MHS GENESIS Patient Portal provides access to a patient’s electronic health record (EHR) and contains their most current medical and dental information via a secure website. It connects the patient to their clinic or hospital’s health care team and is available anytime, anywhere with internet access. It provides a complete view of a patient’s, and their family’s, health records.
2. How will patients benefit from the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal?
The MHS GENESIS Patient Portal securely connects a patient with their health care team and empowers them to become the driver of their health care. With the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal, a patient can:
• Manage primary care medical and dental appointments
• Review clinical notes, lab, and test results
• Request prescription renewals o Renewals occur when a prescription has no refills left, or has expired, and the patient needs to continue taking the medication (in this case, military treatment facility (MTF) staff evaluate and create a new prescription, if appropriate)
• New prescription renewals are done only through MHS GENESIS
• Exchange secure messages with their health care team
• Monitor health information and view their portal profile
• Complete a pre-visit, dental health history questionnaire online
• Look up high-quality, provider-approved health information related to health issues, lab results, and medications
3. How do patients access the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal?
Once a patient has a health record in MHS GENESIS (used by providers and available only to sites with the new EHR), he or she can access the Patient Portal account using their DS Logon username and password. The patient must have a DS Logon Premium (Level 2) account to view their MHS GENESIS health record. If the patient has an existing DS Logon account, he or she will need to upgrade their account to Premium (Level 2). For upgrade and/or password assistance, visit https://myaccess.dmdc.osd.mil/identitymanagement/help.do
4. Is the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal available worldwide?
Yes, patients can access the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on the electronic device of their choice.
5. When will a patient health record be available in the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal?
The patient health record in the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal will be available when a hospital or clinic switches to MHS GENESIS. Patients should ask their provider for more information on when the new Patient Portal will be available.
6. Is the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal secure?
Yes, the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal is secure. It is protected by encryption technology and meets strict Department of Defense cybersecurity standards. Patients and their authorized family members can safely view health care information online.