7th Medical Group introduces secure messaging in May 2013

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 7th Medical Group is excited to begin registering our beneficiaries for MiCare starting May 10.

MiCare is the military's online confidential secure messaging service that patients can use to request appointments with healthcare providers, get test results, request prescription refills or ask their healthcare team medical questions via a secure electronic message. The internet-based service helps decrease phone tag by allowing patients to bypass phone-trees and voicemail. The MiCare service will eventually be adapted to include Personal Health Records at a later date.

MiCare has been shown not only to significantly reduce the number of phone calls between patients and providers, but also increase patient satisfaction and save time for both patients and medical office staff. The Air Force Medical Service and the 7th MDG aim to enroll as many patients as possible into MiCare and utilize secure messaging as the primary form of communication between patients and their healthcare teams.

Patients currently enrolled in MiCare are already talking about the ease, accessibility and benefits of this online service. One MiCare enrollee said, "it's always empowering to be able to communicate via the internet about routine health issues - and can very well prevent additional visits to the clinic." Another enrolled patient said MiCare "will answer lots of questions and save so much time for both doctors and patients."

To sign-up for MiCare and initiate the required face-to-face registration on or after May 10, patients should talk to any member of their 7th MDG healthcare team. Convenient registration tables will also be set-up around Dyess Air Force Base in coming months to assist with MiCare registration.

To register beneficiaries will need show their military identification card and provide basic information such as name, social security number, birthday and email address. An email will be sent for patients to finish the enrollment and confidential messages may begin.

MiCare has been designed to support patients and healthcare teams Air Force-wide, so once registered, a patient will remain in the system--no matter where the Air Force takes them.

For more information, visit http://www.afms.af.mil/micare or call the 7th MDG Group Practice Manager at (325) 696-6620.