ANSBACH, Germany -- U.S. Army Health Clinic Katterbach took advantage of their latest Influenza vaccination campaign to enroll 12th Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers in the Army Medicine Secure Messaging Service, or AMSMS.
AMSMS gives patients the ability to reach out to their medical team using secure electronic communication. As stated in a 2013 Army Medicine press release about the program's introduction, AMSMS "allows you to communicate with your doctor through secure email about non-urgent health care matters, so your doctor or another team member can respond during business hours."
After AMSMS was introduced, USAHC Katterbach staff would ask patients arriving to the clinic if they would like to enroll. Until September 2014, 12th CAB Soldiers were not enrolling to the same degree as other beneficiaries, despite efforts.
During the 2014-2015 Influenza Vaccination Campaign from Oct. 1 to early November, the USAHC Katterbach arranged to administer vaccinations to 12th CAB Soldiers at the Griffin Integration Platoon area. Utilizing the space and computers, Soldiers were walked through the enrollment process after vaccination -- during their 15-to-20-minute observation time.
Capt. Eleanor Gonzalez, clinical nurse officer in charge, and Pfc. Rashaun Davis, force health medic, were instrumental to developing this plan and working with the 12th CAB GRIP section of their area, coordinating with 12th CAB units to have Soldiers present for vaccination during designated dates and times at the GRIP area at Bismarck Kaserne.
During this six-week period, the AMSMS enrollment of primary care (non-12th CAB) beneficiaries continued to rise at a steady rate from 45.2 percent to 50.8 percent -- an increase of 5.6 percent. In contrast, enrollment of 12th CAB Soldiers during the same six weeks rose from 14 percent to 78 percent. This led to an increase of 28.1 percent for the overall USAHC Katterbach enrollment (to 60.5 percent) -- nearly doubling enrollment in AMSMS.
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