DVIDS – News – BJACH MHS GENESIS Patient Portal Marketing Campaign

FORT POLK, La. – Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital is spreading the word to soldiers, families and beneficiaries about the new MHS GENESIS electronic health record and patient portal. The Joint Readiness Center and Fort Polk will transition to MHS GENESIS on March 19 along with Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The BJACH team is working hard to educate the public about the new electronic health record, how to access the patient portal, and the possibility of temporarily reduced access to care during the transition.

Lt Col Nicolle Deaton, Patient Portal Champion for MHS GENESIS Transformation, said she tries to reach beneficiaries in different ways.

“We have posters all over the hospital and outlying clinics. Our pharmacy distributes information materials. And our public affairs team coordinated radio interviews, held briefings, ran a social media campaign and created press releases to spread the word,” she said. “What we want our patients to know is that the MHS GENESIS patient portal will replace the TRICARE Online patient portal, to register for a DS LOGON premium account and prepare for possible limited access to care during the first weeks following our transition to MHS GENESIS.”

Deaton encourages patients to schedule routine care, refill prescriptions, and complete lab or X-ray appointments now. She also suggests getting hard copies of all references to network providers and visiting myacess.dmdc.osd.mil to get a premium DS connection.

Tonia Rowe, Private and Family Readiness Group Leader for the 573rd Engineer Company, 46th Engineer Battalion invited the BJACH team to brief her organization on the MHS GENESIS transformation Feb. 4 at Fort Polk Army Community Service.

“SFRG is for information and resources,” she said. With the changes coming, I wanted soldiers and their families to be aware of the new electronic health record and know what steps to take to access the MHS GENESIS patient portal.

Rowe said knowledge is power and understanding your health care benefits is important to military families.

BJACH set up an information table on the MHS GENESIS patient portal at the JRTC and Fort Polk Quality of Life conference on February 10.

Francesca Parent, a military wife, said she looks forward to MHS GENESIS and the new electronic health record.

“I have several health care needs including injuries and a genetic condition,” she said. “When we first arrived it was difficult to make a proper diagnosis and I changed primary care managers several times.”

Parent said Danielle Craft, a nurse practitioner at BJACH, reviewed all of her medical records and was finally able to get her the help, referrals and diagnosis she was looking for for her chronic pain and other health issues.

“I’m so lucky to have Ms. Craft as my PCM,” she said. “When I became a military wife, I had to retrieve 19 separate medical records. I believe MHS GENESIS will alleviate this for our military children and spouses. As a spouse with health issues, I will never have to go through this again. My files will follow me and will be available to future service providers.

Jamie Lynn Blum, nominee for Fort Polk Military Spouse of the Year, said she knew about MHS GENESIS because they had her at Joint Base Lewis McCord.

“MHS GENESIS streamlines the way we access our healthcare,” she said. “Recalling our experience at JBLM, I recommend everyone make routine appointments now before MHS GENESIS goes live on March 19. My advice is to plan ahead now so you don’t be one of the many people trying to gain access to a system while it is being upgraded.

Blum said she currently uses the TRICARE Online patient portal and the MHS GENESIS patient portal is very similar.

“When we moved from TOL to the MHS GENESIS patient portal at JBLM, it was quite easy. They are very similar and easily accessible,” she said. electronic health, I think people are putting more information about themselves online and at greater risk than using an electronic health record like MHS GENESIS.”

In addition to official briefings, social media and traditional media, the BJACH team tries to reach beneficiaries wherever they are to spread the word.

Jamie Chapman, a military wife, says MHS GENESIS’s marketing efforts are paying off.

“I had an amazing lady stop by my house on duty,” she said. “I was stunned by the amount of effort BJACH has gone to to ensure we have everything we need to know about MHS GENESIS.”

Chapman said she looks forward to having access to her medical records no matter where she travels in the world.

“Every time we move, it takes forever for our files to arrive,” she said. “At some point my child’s records got mixed up and I think having an electronic health record that could potentially follow someone from cradle to grave will lead to fewer errors and providers will have all your information at handy.”

Chapman said she understands there will be a decrease in access to care when MHS GENESIS initially goes live on March 19.

“I know there will be problems initially to get this new system up and running,” she said. “But I prefer to go through it now and once MHS GENESIS is fully deployed, it will be a huge benefit to military families.”

Mony Lopez, MHS GENESIS site and communications point of contact for BJACH is thrilled with the transformation.

“MHS GENESIS empowers patients to connect with their healthcare,” he said. “Our team is doing everything in their power to train and prepare our staff while simultaneously keeping our beneficiaries informed of the transformation to come on March 19.”

Editor’s Note: To obtain a premium DS login for the MHS GENESIS patient portal, please visit myaccess.dmdc.osd.mil.