HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Health professionals from the 66th Medical Squadron here are completing final checks before the clinic transitions to the Military Health System GENESIS electronic health record Jan. 21.
The GENESIS Patient Portal will replace TRICARE Online as the standardized system of care across the entire Military Health System. The platform will support military members’ medical needs from basic training to retirement, and into the Veterans Affairs health system.
GENESIS offers beneficiaries secure 24/7 access to their health records and information, with options to manage appointments and prescriptions, message their care teams, and more.
“Our staff has been preparing well over a year for this transition, and we’re ready,” said Maj. Joshua Smart, 66 MDS administrator.
Over the last month, MDS officials have gradually decreased the number of available appointments in preparation for the system switch, with plans to gradually increase back to normal operations in the months following the launch.
Leaders at the clinic say they do anticipate longer wait times for patients as the medical staff acclimates to the new platform.
“Our goal is always to provide safe care, and we won’t do anything to jeopardize that,” said Smart. “We want to ensure each of our end-user teams have time to get acquainted with the new electronic health record."
Smart said the entire medical squadron will be closed Friday, Jan. 20, but will reopen on Saturday, Jan. 21, with pre-scheduled routine care appointments.
“We’re looking to give our team a chance to use the system before we look to start ramping back up to 100 percent,” he said.
Prior to the go-live date, all beneficiaries must update their Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System information, and ensure they have a DS Logon account for accessing Department of Defense applications. Beneficiaries should create an account at Patientportal.MHSGENESIS.health.mil.
For additional information about MHS GENESIS, visit www.health.mil/MHSGENESIS.