Military Health Records Go Electronic

The Department of Defense launched AHLTA (pronounced “alta”), a global electronic health record system, at a ceremony at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda Nov. 21. AHLTA is the largest, most significant electronic health record system of its kind with the potential to serve more than 9 million service members, retirees and their families worldwide, according to officials. When fully implemented, about 60,000 military health care professionals at DoD medical facilities in the United States, and 11 other countries will use the system. The longer term vision, expected to be achieved in the next two to three years, is a continuously updated digital medical record from the point of injury or care on the battlefield to military clinics and hospitals in the United States. All will be completely transferable electronically to the Veterans Health Administration. For more information, visit www.ha.osd.mil/AHLTA.