U.S. Army: Medical Communications For Combat Casualty Care (MC4)

The US Army's Medical Research and Material Command at Ft. Detrick plans, programs and budgets for the construction of medical facilities for the Army's Medical Department (AMEDD). This agency also manages data and IT requirements in addition to biomedical research and development, medical material management and global telecommunications. Every part of AMEDD is focused on providing mobile medical care to soldiers. One of the many programs developed at Ft. Detrick is Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care. MC4 integrates, fields and supports a medical information management system for Army tactical medical forces. It enables a comprehensive lifelong electronic medical record for all service members and enhances medical situational awareness for operational commanders.

The MC4 system consists of mobile computers, networking and peripheral equipment and has the capability to receive, store, process, transmit, archive and report to medical command and control. The mobile medic system must be portable and durable since it supports field medics deployed in harsh environmental conditions while ensuring soldiers have the care they need on the battlefield.