Electronic medical records: Improve accuracy, timeliness of medical care Published Nov. 30, 2006 By 1st Lt. Alejandro Breceda 319th Medical Group GRAND FORKS AFB, ND -- The 319th Medical Group has implemented AHLTA, a new electronic medical record system, Aug. 14 through Sept. 30. There are many benefits of this new system to both health providers and the patients. AHLTA will provide instant access to patients' health records 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the Air Force. It also provides a single, complete, legible, life-long, portable health record for patients, and a continuity of care from the battlefield to home station. AHLTA allows only authorized user access, protects records from loss due to natural or man-made disasters, and enables medical surveillance. AHLTA is a complex system and beneficiaries are asked to be patient while the providers at the 319 MDG learn the new system. Appointments will continue to be reduced until February 2007 and patients may be referred downtown. With the decrease in available appointments, the nursing staff is important. They are the only ones able to prioritize patient concerns based on urgency. Many patients only need simple home care advice, while others require more thorough healthcare and immediate attention. To facilitate the amount of calls during peak times between 7:30 and 9 a.m., calls may be forwarded to a voice mail message. The nurses have 48-72 hours to return the call for routine issues (medication refills and health care referral questions) and 24 hours for acute needs (colds, flu like symptoms, etc.). Begining Monday, Dec. 4 patients calling for non-urgent care (Med Refills, Lab Results, Healthcare Questions, etc...), must call after 9 a.m. This action will ensure priority calls are taken first. The 319th MDG will not jeopardize the quality of patient care. The providers are busily trying to learn the system and streamlining the steps involved with every patient encounter to provide better care to the wing.