Important Immunizations Tracking Changes Submitted by Captain William Knight Office of Commissioned Corps Force Management

The information systems that support the Corps are in the process of evolution and consolidation, both as a result of the need to improve, and to prepare the way for the implementation of the Corps’ transformation. The intent is to reduce duplicate data entry and storage, have a single point of entry into the systems, and to make sure that we have one consistent source of information about our officers. How many times have you put data into the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment (OFRD) system or the central system thinking this was the correct place, to only find that it was not? Not only is that confusing to you, the officers, but it is just not right.

For several months, we have been working to move the information contained in the OFRD databases into the central database system. Also, we are moving from a situation of self reporting of various items, immunizations being a primary example, to documented sources. For over a year now, we have indicated that copies of all immunization data should be forwarded to the Medical Affairs Branch (MAB) for validation and entry into our tracking system. As of mid-March, 2,600 active-duty officers have no immunization data validated in the MAB system! Because we will be moving completely away from the self-reported tracking of immunizations for the Basic level of force readiness prior to the 2007 promotion cycle, this is something every officer should each take action on. It is critical because of the increased tempo of deployments we are faced with and the need to have a high confidence level in the safety of our officers based on good immunization data.

Therefore, starting in April, we will modify the officer information screen that you see upon logging into the Commissioned Corps Management Information System (CCMIS) Web site to include information on your current validated BASIC READINESS immunizations. We are not including information on immunizations not required for the Basic level of force readiness at this time. However, all immunization documentation, including immunizations not required for the Basic level, should be forwarded to MAB. We will, after several months, look to reconcile the differences in the systems and provide a means for you, the officers, to resolve the differences. We will also be providing a means similar to the electronic Official Personnel Folder for your electronic Medical Record. Please note, however, that the electronic Medical Record will NOT be complete. It will only contain immunization data, and soon fitness data, when the system is made available. Full health records will not be implemented at the beginning.

We will continue to provide updates on this and other initiatives. Also, timelines will be published on the CCMIS Web site so you may plan accordingly.

 

Current Issue Front Page