“MHS GENESIS, the Department of Defense’s new electronic health record system, has recently created a large digital record of COVID-19 vaccinations administered to service members and their families.”
“Referred to as ‘MassVax,’ the digital archive will more accurately track and ensure that the DOD’s patient population has received COVID-19 vaccinations, considered essential to both a ready medical force and medically ready force.”
“Air Force Col. (Dr.) Thomas Cantilina, chief health informatics officer for the Defense Health Agency, said the DOD partnered with Cerner Corp., the company that designed the still-evolving MHS GENESIS, to develop the new capability.”
“‘MassVax is designed to help us quickly record who gave what vaccine, as well as when and where it was given,’ said Cantilina. ‘Additionally, and more importantly, MHS GENESIS and its MassVax capability have enhanced safety and efficiency at our COVID-19 vaccine sites, through its ability to provide clinicians with patient data related to drug and allergy interactions – prior to vaccines being administered.’”
“There is plenty to keep track of. According to the Department of Defense, as of March 5, 84% of vaccines received by the DOD had been administered, accounting for nearly 1.3 million total doses given at 335 sites; additionally, 81,256 vaccinations at retail pharmacies were administered to MHS beneficiaries. And the newly approved single-shot Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (also known as Johnson & Johnson) was being prepared for immediate DOD roll-out.”
“MassVax went live at Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms in California in September 2020, giving staff sufficient time to become proficient with the new system and recognize the powerful tool they had to administer vaccinations on a massive scale, touted Dave Marks, public affairs officer at NHTP. The facility supports the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in the Mojave Desert, the largest Marine Corps base in the world.”
“‘Because an average Marine battalion is around 1,000 members strong, we needed something that was quick and efficient,’ said licensed vocational nurse Danielle Vasquez, the immunizations program manager who oversees the Twentynine Palms COVID-19 vaccine program. ‘We’ve had great success with our through-put. We can vaccinate up to 150 (service members) per hour, and that’s not even using MassVax at its full capability…’” Read the full article here.
Source: MHS GENESIS MassVax system rolling out with COVID19 vaccines – March 9, 2021. MHS.
