Army Medicine's Secure Messaging Service activates here Monday

By U.S. ArmyJune 28, 2013

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Fort Huachuca, AZ. - Effective Monday, Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center, or RWBAHC, enrollees will be able to conveniently communicate online with their primary care providers at RWBAHC via secure messaging.

Army Medicine Secure Messaging Service, or AMSMS, powered by RelayHealth, brings your healthcare team to you, wherever you are, at any time of day. It allows patients to communicate with their doctor through secure email about non-urgent healthcare matters, so the doctor or another care team member can respond during business hours.

Through AMSMS, patients can contact their primary care clinic to:

Ask questions and receive advice about non-urgent health concerns at their convenience

Renew medication prescriptions easily

Request laboratory and other test results, with an explanation from the doctor or other care team member attached, when appropriate

Avoid unnecessary office visits and telephone calls

Access valuable, medically reviewed health education information about a full range of healthcare topics and access links to doctor-recommended information and sites

AMSMS is a secure portal that is compliant with the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. Encryption technology and a stringent privacy policy protect patient personal information more securely than either the telephone or regular email. Patient information is only accessible by patients and their healthcare team.

AMSMS was launched to benefit patients through increased access to their medical care team. It also provides faster, more successful communication. It offers communication that is not synchronous so provider and patient can communicate on different timelines, when convenient.

AMSMS also encourages patients' active involvement in their own care as a patient safety strategy by providing educational materials about topics important to their overall health and care, and giving patients the ability to access and add to their personal health record.

AMSMS doesn't only benefit patients. Doctors and their staffs don't have to play phone tag with patients when they don't want to leave a voicemail with lab results. Nurses can spend less time on the phone and more time with patients when they can answer questions or arrange appointments or referrals through secure email.

"AMSMS will significantly enhance communication between medical providers and patients. It will make it easier for patients to get information, access medical care, and prevent delays in receiving care," said Maj. Kenneth Ford, officer-in-charge of the Fort Huachuca Military Intelligence Student Clinic who has been trained to use the system.

"The AMSMS also allows the medical folks to provide, and patients to access, a wealth of educational materials. It is an excellent tool for medical professionals and patients," he added.

It's easy to get started, and there's no cost to patients. The benefits include no more waiting on hold to talk to a healthcare professional, and no more phone tag when trying to schedule an appointment or ask a question.

To learn more, talk to your primary care clinic personnel at RWBAHC about getting connected to the Army Medicine Secure Messaging Service.