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Military Health System Approves Move to EHR for All Service Members

Friday, January 22, 2010

Over the next five years, the Department of Defense's priorities for health information technology include the redesign of the Military Health System's IT architecture and creation of a robust electronic health record (EHR) for every service member.

The Military Health System's Information Management/Information Technology Strategic Plan was approved in mid-January 2010 with the main goals to update the system's enterprise architecture and develop a digital record for every service member.

The aim is to make digital records easily available to patients and provide "enterprise intelligence," which involves collecting, sharing and analyzing health data to improve the quality of care.

The plan strategically focuses on health IT governance and interoperability, such as developing a Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record in conjunction with the Veterans Affairs Department.

The proposal was developed in 2009 by military health system's Office of the Chief Information Officer as well as leaders in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Health Affairs, TRICARE Management Activity, Joint Chiefs of Staff and Joint Task Force National Capital Region. It will be reviewed on an annual basis.

DOD and VA are currently developing pilot projects in communities to advance the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record collaboration.

With the entire health care industry making the transition to Electronic Health Records, the Military Health System is also following suit, with a goal of creating streamlined, electronic health records. With frequent moves and deployments, service members, military families, health care professionals and military personnel will have quick, convenient access to health records.

View the entire MHS IM/IT 2010-2015 Strategic Plan.

Source: Federal Computer Week, Alice Lipowicz, January 21, 2010)

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Posted by Heather Brunson @ 1:52 PM • 0 comments

New Photovoltaic Systems at Pearl Harbor

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii awarded a $15.2 million, firm-fixed price task order Dec. 30 to Niking Corporation, Wahiawa, Hawaii, to install photovoltaic (PV) systems on top of five Navy buildings around Pearl Harbor, including the Navy Exchange and Commissary.

"With the increased emphasis on renewable energy, this photovoltaic project will assist the Navy in Hawaii with achieving federal, state and Navy renewable energy goals," said Capt. Richard Kitchens, Naval Station Pearl Harbor commanding officer. "In addition, the utilization of renewable energy resources like photovoltaics will assure our energy independence and national security."

The task order is part of the Navy in Hawaii's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) efforts. It was awarded through a competitive selection of proposals submitted under a multiple award construction contract, and it provides for the design and construction of a grid-tied PV power system at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.

"The new photovoltaic systems are estimated to produce approximately 3.4 gigawatt hours of energy annually, which is equal to the annual energy needs of approximately 440 homes," said Kitchens.

Estimates indicate the new PV system will provide an annual avoidance of approximately 5,667 barrels of oil and 3,118 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The carbon dioxide avoided is equivalent to taking 550 passenger cars off the road.

Niking Corporation is a Hawaii-based general contractor with more than 22 years of intensive building experience with the federal government.

"We are extremely excited to have this contract," said Niking Corporation President Robert L. King. "It will be good for our economy to have a local contractor execute this work, and we feel it will help preserve and create needed jobs here in Hawaii."

The PV project at Pearl Harbor is scheduled for completion July 2011. The contract task order awarded was $15,237,555.

The Department of Defense received $7.4 billion from the ARRA, which is less than one percent of the $787 billion total amount. The Navy in Hawaii received $124 million to modernize Navy and Marine Corps shore infrastructure, enhance America's energy independence and sustain a stead and robust maritime force for decades.

Source: www.navy.mil

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Posted by Danielle Darany @ 2:54 PM • 0 comments

New Bill Helps Military Spouses Maintain Residency

Thursday, January 7, 2010

As a military spouse, you may experience frequent PCS moves. And although you can train for a portable military spouse career and move your business with you, not everything is as easily transferrable - like your residency. However, change of residency stress due to a PCS move is about to be alleviated.

On November 11, President Obama signed the Military Spouses Relief Act (MSRRA). This bill is an amendment to the 2003 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The amendment now allows a military spouse to claim residency in the same state as their spouse and retain that residency as long as their servicemember spouse is in the military.

There are certain requirements that must be met in order to claim residency in a state. For example:

-A spouse can retain the same legal residence as the active-duty servicemember as long as the spouse once shared that legal residency

-If a military spouse has ever been a resident of a tax-free state while married to the servicemember and is only absent from the state due to the servicemember's military duties, the military spouse can now regain that legal residency

-The spouse may only regain the right to claim the same state of legal residence as their military spouse if they had once established such residency

This is an exciting amendment, as servicemembers have had this privilege for over 60 years and now their spouses can enjoy the same benefits too. But, what exactly are the benefits of MSRRA? Military spouses:

-May keep residency in a tax-free state, such as Texas, Florida and Washington
-Do not have to change their driver's license, vehicle or voter's registration during a PCS
-Can avoid heavy paperwork associated with a PCS
-Can enjoy stable legal residence
-Will only have to pay taxes to their state of legal residency (since income earned by a spouse will now be treated the same as military income)

For complete details concerning the MSRRA, contact your local legal office and set up an appointment with legal guidance counselor.

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Posted by Danielle Darany @ 10:34 AM • 0 comments

A Background in Green: Beneficial to Your Military Career?

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

You may not know this, but a variety of emerging green technologies, like renewable energy, are being utilized throughout the military. But, would a background in emerging green technologies benefit your military career? You decide. In fact, check out these facts for yourself:

- A report in the U.S. News and World Report notes that Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada currently has 70,000 photovoltaic panels working on 140 acres of land. The solar installation has reportedly allowed the base to realize $83,000 a month in solar energy savings with "trackers" - panels that follow the sun's movement.

- The Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake, CA uses a geothermal energy plan and is a net contributor to the local commercial electric grid (source: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists).

- The Army is developing hydrogen fuel cells and renewable energy hybrid-electric generators for use at forward operating bases and remote locations (source: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists).

- In December of 2008, the Secretary of the Air Force, Michael B. Donely, signed the Air Force Energy Program Guidance Memorandum, which is the first time that the U.S. Military has created a comprehensive energy strategy that focus on increasing the use of renewable energy (source: renewable energy world.com).

- A project being tested at the Diego Garcia Naval Base in the Indian Ocean will generate electricity from temperature differences between the ocean's surface and deep water (source: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists).

These examples represent a small sample of how the military is successfully implementing emerging green technology strategies. In fact, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2007 mandates that the Pentagon produce or procure 25% of its electrical consumption from renewable sources (source: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists).

If you're an active duty service member who is interested in progressing their military career, a background in emerging green technologies may be an ideal way to distinguish yourself. Ready to learn more? Check out renewable energy courses and decide if a background in renewable green energy is the right path for you.

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Posted by Danielle Darany @ 12:17 PM • 0 comments