FORT JACKSON, S.C.– Beginning September 24, 2022, Fort Jackson’s Moncrief Army Health Clinic will become the latest military medical treatment facility to implement the MHS GENESIS electronic health record, eliminating the need for service members to carry hard copies of their records when transferring to new assignments.

The MHS GENESIS system will support the availability of electronic health records for more than 9.4 million beneficiaries and approximately 205,000 Military Health System personnel globally. It enables the application of standardization workflows, integrated health care delivery, and data standards for the improved and secure electronic exchanges of medical and patient data.

The system maintains an electronic file for each beneficiary, from their entry point into the service, through the end of their military tour, and well into their transition into the Veterans Administration Medical System.

“(MHS GENESIS) will talk to any other hospital within our system,” explained Col. Warren A. Stewart, commander of Moncrief Army Health Clinic. “There is no more having to transfer information or things getting lost when you leave Fort Jackson and go to another facility or installation. Your medical information will be there seamlessly. No more having to take your medical records or having it mailed there.”

Stewart say that eventually, the VA will have this system, giving it access to service members’ records whenever they transition out of the service.

"They’ll automatically have access to your records. They don’t get lost, and you won’t have to print them all out and take them there, the VA will be on exactly the same system,” he explained.

MHS GENESIS brings with it numerous benefits for Moncrief’s beneficiaries, such as the ability to contact providers directly, using GENESIS’ patient portal. It also improves data access and the sharing of health information. Providers will also have the ability to monitor patient safety, outcomes and operational and medical readiness.

Stewart added that in the long run, the MHS GENESIS system is the best thing possible for the patients, but he added that it does come with some learning curves. He said his staff is currently training to overcome those hurdles quickly, and says patients should expect their initial appointments to be longer, as GENESIS is a more thorough system. He added that because of the longer appointment, MAHC providers will not be able to see as many patients throughout the day.

“If your appointment used to take 20 minutes and now it takes 40 minutes. Providers can only see one patient in the time they used to be able to see two, which means there will be less appointments,” Stewart explained. He added that these changes are only temporary, as the MAHC staff adjusts to using the new system.

Patients my access the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal by visiting https://patientportal.mhsgenesis.health.mil.