Medical group tests MiCare Published Nov. 10, 2010 673d Medical Group JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Personal Health Records and Secure Messaging are coming to 673d Medical Group at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson this fall. The 673d Medical Group will be participating in a pilot program using Personal Health Records and Secure Messaging. The MiCare portal will house PHR and SM capabilities and can be easily accessed online - anywhere, any time. Secure Messaging is built to facilitate secure, online communications between doctors and patients. Electronic PHRs enable patients to view and maintain their own electronic health records. This allows patients to capture medical information in a central, online location. This has not been an option for patients in the past, which made it difficult to keep track of health information coming from different doctors, treatment locations, emergency providers and overseas duty stations. What are some benefits you can expect by the SM tool? Communicate with your doctor's office online - privately and without phone tag. Send a secure online message to your provider asking for advice. Review medications - on your time for you and your dependents. Get online to see a listing of medications - dosage, frequency, etc. Request prescription renewals online. Put a stop to unnecessary calls back and forth between you and your doctor's office. Receive test results - by accessing your PHR, you can view lab and radiology results for you and your family members. Access physician-approved health resource links at your convenience. The goal of MiCare is to improve the quality of health care that patients receive, as well as to provide a mechanism for patients to have more control over their own health information. The number of unnecessary office visits, as well as the number of phone calls required to address medical requests will be significantly reduced as we deploy MiCare. This is an exciting opportunity, as the 673d MDG has been chosen to lead this effort for the Air Force community. Through collaboration with the AFMS Office of the CIO (AF SG6) and AFMOA, the PHR and SM technologies will be deployed to primary care staff and empanelled patients at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The leadership and staff at the MTF have been actively involved in shaping the overall solution. Throughout the fall you will see more information on the program, letting you know exactly what to expect when MiCare arrives later this year. On your next visit to your doctor, please ask about the benefits of signing up for MiCare and be ready to take command of your health care.