Family of Med Comm for Combat Casualty Care

The Family of Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (LI 9885MA8000) is a procurement line item within the Army's Communications and Electronics Equipment budget, specifically supporting combat communications for medical operations. The primary objective of this program is to modernize and enhance the Army's capability to electronically document and manage patient care throughout all phases of battlefield medical treatment. This initiative is driven by requirements outlined in section 1815 of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, which mandates support for both military and civil authorities in homeland defense and emergency response scenarios.

The program is managed by the Operational Medicine Information Systems-Army (OMIS-A) Program Office, which develops and integrates Operational Health Information Technology (OHIT) software applications for deployed Army medical personnel. The goal is to enable seamless electronic health record (EHR) documentation from the point of injury through evacuation and definitive care, ensuring patient safety, improved coordination, and accessibility of medical data across the battlefield. This capability supports efficiency, accuracy, and reliability in documentation. It also enables advanced data analytics and reporting for medical operations.

One of the key objectives is to ensure that battlefield EHR documentation interfaces effectively with other warfighting systems, such as the Army's Command and Control/Situational Awareness (C2/SA) platforms. This integration allows commanders to monitor patient movement and health status in real time, facilitating informed decisions regarding troop readiness, resource allocation, and operational planning. The program also ensures that EHR data generated in the field is transferred to the Military Health System's EHR, MHS GENESIS, supporting continuity of care for soldiers throughout their military careers and into the VA healthcare system.

The program is responsible for developing and integrating OHIT software onto various Army systems and networks, including the Army Integrated Tactical Network (ITN). It also tests and evaluates software from the Joint Operational Medicine Information Systems (JOMIS) program to ensure compatibility and cybersecurity compliance with Army infrastructure. Where JOMIS does not meet Army-specific requirements, tailored solutions are developed to address those gaps. The program maintains authority to operate and connect for all OHIT applications and is responsible for fielding and training these capabilities across Army units.

Funding under this line item also provides the necessary hardware for Army users to utilize advanced point-of-injury documentation software. This software is the first handheld electronic documentation tool for Army medics, allowing real-time data capture during patient care and movement. The information collected follows the patient through the entire continuum of care, improving patient safety and ensuring that comprehensive medical records populate the soldier's lifelong health record.

Justification for the program centers on the evolving requirements of the operational environment and the need to support both active and reserve components in a range of missions, including homeland defense and domestic emergency response. The availability and accuracy of battlefield EHR data are critical for continuity of care and for soldiers seeking VA disability compensation. The program's focus on integration, interoperability, and cybersecurity ensures that medical communications remain robust and reliable in dynamic combat scenarios.