Military Health System EHR is Christened GENESIS

The new system to transform military health records has an official name. Military Health System (MHS) officials say the new electronic health record (EHR) will be called MHS GENESIS and will launch at the end of calendar year 2016. To keep pace with medical advances and innovations in technology, the DOD has purchased a new state of the art EHR that will support us in our mission to continue to provide high quality healthcare to our beneficiaries, as well as an agile, responsive system for our healthcare professionals.

The configuration and deployment of MHS GENESIS constitute a multi-year effort to provide a state-of-the-market system of sharing health records electronically and documenting the continuum of care. The new EHR will begin implementation in the Pacific Northwest at the end of this year, followed by a pre-planned, programmed installation expected to be completed over a several-year period. Whether on a ship at sea, at a local clinic, or in a major hospital, MHS GENESIS will be available throughout all Department of Defense facilities, and accessible to all members of the DoD's healthcare team.

While on the surface it appears just a system for health records, Dr. William M. Roberts, a retired Navy rear admiral who serves as the MHS functional champion, said it really reflects a whole new way of doing business for the MHS.

"We've looked at this process as finding what is best for the MHS as a whole, not just in individual areas," said Roberts. "We see this as the latest step in making sure patients are able to be fully engaged in their own health."

"We want people to know MHS GENESIS is a safe, secure accessible record for patients and health care professionals that is easily transferred to external providers, including major medical systems and Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics," emphasized Roberts. "When our beneficiaries see this logo or hear the name, they'll know their records will be seamlessly and efficiently shared with their chosen care provider."