New notification system aims at improved base medical readiness

Published Aug. 7, 2008
By Mike Frangipane
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Wright-Patterson Medical Center's Public Health Office and the 88th Medical Group Systems Flight are implementing a new automated notification process for Individual Medical Readiness Requirements.

Now each individual active duty Airmen will be notified daily by email of any immunizations, labs, and preventive health assessments that have come due to meet Individual Medical Readiness Requirements. The new system will continue to notify commanders and first sergeants monthly.

The system has been fully tested and will be implemented Aug. 11 and will stand up with the implementation of two initiatives.

First, to reduce the backlog of Preventive Health Assessments, the 88th MDG has established two mass PHA clinic dates on Aug. 21 and Aug. 28. On both days between 8-11 a.m. and 1-5 p.m. Airmen who are overdue (medical status level red) will be able to walk-in on a first-come, first-serve basis and accomplish the technician portion of the PHA. Active duty members who are due (medical status level yellow) will need to schedule an appointment.

Second, the 88th MDG Public Health and Systems Flights will replace the old process where unit leadership would notify Airmen due or overdue for Individual Medical Readiness Requirements with the automated daily e-mail notification. Beyond notifying active duty members of laboratory, immunization and PHA requirements, the emails provide detailed instructions, contact information and hours of operation.

"This new system takes our notification efforts to a new level and is aimed at maintaining the highest medical readiness to deploy at any given moment," said Lt. Col. Armando L. Rosales, Public Health Flight commander. "Air Force commanders are required to receive monthly assessments of the readiness of their troops. The automated readiness notification system will now go beyond that by communicating directly to individual airmen alerting them daily of any current medical readiness need."