MiCare: Controlling your health care Published July 24, 2012 By Master Sgt. David Miller 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The 99th Medical Group is encouraging patients to take more control of their healthcare by enrolling in MiCare. MiCare Secure Messaging is an online service that allows efficient electronic exchange between patients and their healthcare team. It allows for a more secure exchange of health information compared to using a personal email account. MiCare ensures protection of users' privacy. To protect information communicated via MiCare, all members - patients, staff members, and providers - are required to register and enter a unique Log In name and Password to access and use MiCare. MiCare utilizes several levels of security to protect the personal identifiable information of registered users. A secure connection is established with the browser to ensure personal information is encrypted or coded for transmission and storage. In addition, the system is in compliance with the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. MiCare allows patients to: Avoiding waiting in phone trees and playing "telephone tag." Close monitoring of health issues through confidential online communications without the inconveniences of traffic, parking, or lost days at work. Request their next appointment Request medication renewals Receive test and lab results Communicate online with the healthcare team about non-urgent symptoms Request a copy of their immunization records Accessing a large library of patient education materials The healthcare team responds to all patient messages in a timely manner. The team will work to respond to all messages generally within a 72 hour timeframe. Urgent messages should not be communicated via secure messaging. Registration is a face-to-face process to ensure security of patient health information. Enrollment can be initiated at the Military Treatment Facility. You will need to show your military identification card and provide some basic information such as your name, social security number, birthday and e-mail address. You will then receive an email to finish your enrollment. Responding to the email is a very important step. You will only be able to complete the registration process by following the email instructions. Once you have accomplished this you are ready to start messaging with your care team. "MiCare will make routine health care more convenient for our patients, while reducing unnecessary visits to the MTF, thus freeing up our providers to see more acute patients," said Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, Air Force Surgeon General. "This is an important goal in Air Force Patient-Centered Medical Home." The future of military health has arrived and 99th MDG patients can be part of it. Register for MiCare today.
