The Military Health System continues to make tremendous strides deploying the MHS GENESIS electronic health record across the enterprise when four additional sites deployed the system on October 31.

“Wave PENDLETON truly represents a milestone for the MHS,” said Army Brig. Gen. George Appenzeller, the Defense Health Agency MHS GENESIS functional champion. “We are returning to regular deployments of MHS GENESIS following a pause brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud that our latest deployment sites truly demonstrate the commitment to patient safety and the future of the electronic medical record. I also thank this and the earlier deployment sites for all of the improvements made based on their feedback.”

The latest deployment on major bases and medical facilities, Wave PENDLETON brings advanced quality health care and patient safety to these locations.

Wave PENDLETON consists of the following locations:

• Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California
• Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
• Fort Wainwright, Alaska
• Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska

The DHA works in close coordination with the Program Executive Office, Defense Healthcare Management Systems to deploy this new EHR across the MHS.

”The COVID pandemic challenged us in ways that drove positive change for patients and providers,” according to DHMS Acting PEO Holly Joers. “We pivoted to develop tele-health capabilities sooner than anticipated. We leveraged our partners’ experience, VA in particular, to address the need for new and better tele-health support.” Joers also noted that, “Amidst all these new activities, the entire MHS GENESIS team pulled together to successfully deploy both Waves scheduled for 2020. We’re currently working seven simultaneous wave deployments across the U.S. That’s pretty remarkable when you stop to think about it.”

“Go-Live doesn’t just happen the day of an onsite launch, it is a long process that starts years prior, and results in a cascade in positive feedback, seamless integration, and the resolution of issues that develop as we deliberately expand the platform,” Appenzeller added.

Wave PENDLETON is the third major deployment of MHS GENESIS, following the September 26 Wave NELLIS launch and Wave TRAVIS in September 2019.  The initial operational capability, or “IOC,” was launched at four sites in the Pacific Northwest in 2017.

MHS GENESIS will deploy at military hospitals and clinics worldwide in planned waves through 2023.