FORT DETRICK, Md. -- The Army's Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) Product Manager Lt. Col. William Geesey will receive the 2012 Federal Computer Week (FCW) Federal 100 Award, which recognizes government individuals for their forward-thinking and vision in the federal information technology (IT) community. MC4 integrates, fields, trains and supports IT systems that allow deployable medical staff to document and track patient care, digitally manage medical supplies and conduct health surveillance in the combat zone.
In 2011, Geesey, who has served as MC4's longest tenured product manager, led efforts to field an innovative technology solution to digitally connect remote Soldiers with mental health specialists in support of the Army's suicide prevention campaign. This telehealth capability significantly improved Army mental health providers' ability to conduct private, virtual medical consultations with at-risk Soldiers deployed to remote combat and forward operating bases. The Army surgeon general reported that 70 percent of Soldiers in Afghanistan and 89 percent of Soldiers in Iraq seen through MC4's telehealth capability would not have received services otherwise. Since, the Army vice chief of staff has directed rapid expansion of the capability in Afghanistan.
"Telehealth is a capability that is enduring and has proven to be a valuable tool health care providers cannot live without on the battlefield," Geesey said. "We're going to continue to evolve this capability, using technology to extend the medical forces' reach to Soldiers in need."
Last year, Geesey also led "train as you fight" initiatives to better prepare medical units for theater. The impact today is seen in medical units that have injected use of MC4 in more than 50 major training exercises, including Cobra Gold, Vibrant Response and Global Medic, to ensure deploying units require less training in theater and can use MC4 systems when their boots hit the ground. In return, units using MC4 in garrison and in exercises have realized faster set-up times, exhibited more efficient use of the medical records system, and delivered better data integrity in turn providing a clearer picture of population health for commanders.
To date, MC4 has equipped more than 85 garrison battalion aid stations resulting in the electronic capture and transmission of more than 79,000 patient encounters and the abandonment of inefficient paper-based practices, while enabling re-deployed units to continue to "train as you fight" on the MC4 system prior to deployment.
This is the third time MC4 has been honored with the Fed 100 Award, and the second time awarded to MC4's product manager. Geesey will be one of four recipients featured in the March 30 edition of Federal Computer Week magazine.
In 2011, MC4 was widely recognized as an innovator and leader in delivering information technology in the combat zone. The MC4 team earned the DOD Chief Information Officer's second place Team award, InformationWeek Top 15 Government Information Technology (IT) Innovators Award, as well as the prestigious 2011 Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) Top Information IT Team of the Year Award. FCW will honor the 2012 Fed 100 Award winners at a gala to be held on March 28 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.
About MC4
MC4 integrates, fields and supports a comprehensive medical information system, enabling lifelong electronic medical records, streamlined medical logistics and enhanced situational awareness for Army operational forces. The Army's Program Executive Office, Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS), Fort Belvoir, Va., oversees the MC4 Product Management Office headquartered at Fort Detrick, Md.
Since 2003, MC4 has enabled the capture of more than 17 million electronic patient encounters worldwide. MC4 has also trained 62,000 medical staff and commanders, and fielded 50,000 systems to 2,400 units with medical personnel, to include Army National Guard and Reserve units, and active component divisional units throughout 15 countries.
For more information on MC4, visit www.mc4.army.mil.
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