MC4 Training Goes Mobile

By Bill SnethenJune 1, 2011

ATN2GO
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT DETRICK, Md. " Soldiers on-the-go can now train on electronic health record, medical logistics, and medical command and control apps using their personal or approved iPhone, iPad or Android devices. Version 2.0 of the Army Training Network 2 Go (ATN2GO), a stand-alone mobile application released in February, includes tools to guide users of the Army’s Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) system. Deployable medical staff use MC4 to document and track patient care, digitally manage medical supplies and conduct health surveillance in the combat zone.

Commanding General of the Army's Combined Arms Center-Training (CAC-T), Brig. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, highlighted the importance of ATN2GO on the Army’s website. "We want to take training directly to Soldiers instead of bringing Solders to training. It's just-in-time training and education, whenever and wherever you want it."

Soldiers now have at their fingertips more than 40 MC4 manuals and instructional videos to assist with core functions on MC4 systems, such as admitting patients, ordering ancillary services and inventorying blood products. Like the MC4 system, the app operates in no- to low-communications environments.

“ATN2GO is a game changer for MC4 users,” said Lt. Col. William Geesey, MC4 product manager. MC4 provides formal classroom instruction, theater training and supports collective unit exercises. Users also may receive MC4 instruction at select Army institutions, but deployment schedules and system familiarity remain challenges.

“This app extends our training arm to the mobile, transient MC4 user,” Geesey said. “It puts important information into the hands of users quickly, regardless of time or location.”

According to the ATN website, ATN2GO operates through iTunes, which is not authorized for use on government computers. Soldiers can download the application to a personal computer from the ATN website via common access card or Army Knowledge Online (AKO) credentials. Tutorials and resources on the ATN website guide users through the installation process.

MC4 will continue to work with ATN to expand application training and build upon Soldiers’ proficiency with the MC4 system. In the next year, MC4 will extend its training materials to Army distributed learning sites, which will enable commanders to assign Soldiers training paths, as well as evaluate and sustain their unit’s readiness with the MC4 system.

Since 2003, MC4 has enabled the capture of more than 15 million electronic patient encounters in the combat zone. MC4 has also trained 57,000 medical staff and commanders, and fielded 46,000 systems to 750 units with medical personnel, to include Army National Guard and Reserve units, and active component divisional units throughout 19 countries.

Related Links:

Army Training Network Heating Up as Favorite Army Training Resource

MC4 website (NEW)

Army Training Network 2 Go (ATN2GO) App