MHS GENESIS is Coming Soon!
On Oct. 28, 2023, the Department of Defense’s new electronic health record (EHR), MHS GENESIS, will launch here at the 374th Medical Group. MHS GENESIS will replace TRICARE Online at this facility.
The transition is expected to impact Yokota patients with longer wait times for medical care, specifically including laboratory and pharmacy services. To mitigate these impacts, the 374th MDG collaborated with the Defense Health Agency to send medical professionals to Yokota and deliver hands-on training for Yokota medics.
What is MHS GENESIS?
MHS GENESIS is the new EHR that provides you and your providers with enhanced, secure technology to manage your health information. When fully deployed, MHS GENESIS will be the single health record for service members, veterans, and their families. >>Learn More about MHS GENESIS
What is the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal?
Along with the new EHR, the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal is a secure website available 24/7 that gives you access to your health information. Through the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal, you can:
- View health information, including laboratory and radiology results
- Schedule appointments
- Communicate securely with care team
- Request prescription renewals
- Complete intake and screening forms in advance of appointments
- Access a health library
The MHS GENESIS Patient Portal is replacing the TRICARE Online Secure Patient Portal.
Videos: What is the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal? | MHS GENESIS Patient Portal Registration
How to Prepare for MHS GENESIS
1. Ensure your DEERS information is up-to-date
- Ensure EMAIL is current
- Ensure PHONE NUMBER is correct
- Ensure family members are correct
- Check all other information
- Verify current Duty Station
2. Get a DS Logon Account
- Visit the milConnect website or call 1-800-538-9552 if you have questions
3. Get military-specific appointments (flight-physicals / pre-deployment & end-of-service physicals) well in advance of Go-Live
4. Get Pharmacy REFILLS for a longer duration (60-90-120 day supply – if permitted)
Yokota-Specific Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will I have access to previous messages from Tricare Online?
A: Tricare Online will be replaced with the Patient Portal. A separate vendor runs TRICARE Online Secure Messaging (formerly RelayHealth) and the messages do not cross over to MHS GENESIS. It is important for beneficiaries to know that their old TRICARE Online Secure Messaging account is still active. They can log into the old system to see all their archived messages in that application’s "my chart" section. Messages generated in MHS GENESIS should be visible within the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal.
Q: Will my medical records automatically transfer?
A: Beneficiaries and their providers will not lose access to their old records. In rare cases, certain documents are “archived” and do not transfer to GENESIS in the section we would ideally like them to. If you find that a record appears to be missing, it has likely been archived and our Tricare staff can assist you in tracking it down. However, beneficiaries can still elect to download their records for peace of mind.
Q: Will I have to create a new DS Logon?
A: MHS Genesis will be accessed through DS logon. Members who already have a DS logon do not need to create a new one.
Q: Should I save my health data on Tricare Online? How far back should I download data?
A: It is recommended that members download and save their records and important data during the transition. There is no designated timeframe for how far back a beneficiary can/should save their records. Beneficiaries can go back as far as they desire to save records.
Q: Is there a new login for Genesis? If I have been in Genesis before?
A: Members who have previously been to locations that have transitioned to MHS Genesis should not need to create a new account, however, patients will not be able to utilize the account for Yokota Air Base medical care needs until the transition has occurred on October 28, 2023.
Q: How can I access the slides from the MHS Genesis Town Hall?
A: The slides from the recent MHS Genesis Town Hall at Yokota Air Base can be viewed here. https://www.yokota.af.mil/Portals/44/2_%20Website%20info.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0mRP28tm05HyJrTqHMp34TyPeitXqeGzlM5ocwtrrUJ8It0olqq8dlN-4
Q: Will there be an impact to VA health services?
A: There are plans for the VA to transfer to MHS Genesis, however that transition has not yet been scheduled. Beneficiaries are encouraged to download and save any medical records that are or could be pertinent to current and future VA benefits. Please contact your VA office for more information on your VA records.
Q: Does this have impact to the current Tricare Claims system?
A: The MHS GENESIS transition will not impact current or future claims. Our Cashier Cage can assist with any claims or questions at DSN 225-6204 or by cell at 042-552-2510 x. 56204.
Q: Will dental records go in MHS Genesis?
A: Yes, dental visits will be documented in MHS GENESIS. All previous records in the legacy system will be viewable by the dental care team. However, the dental staff will need to transfer some information by hand into the new MHS GENESIS profile at the patients’ first visit with MHS GENESIS.
Q: Even if I don’t use Tricare online or online systems, can I still call the med group for prescriptions and appointment scheduling?
A: Beneficiaries are not required to utilize the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal and if they take no action during this transition, their care will not be changed. They are still able to call the appointment line (DSN 225-8864, cell 042-552-2510 x. 58864.) to make appointments and refill prescriptions. Utilizing the Patient Portal gives patients additional options to communicate with their care team and access their medical information.
Q: Does each patient need a DS login or do dependents fall under their sponsor?
A: All adults 18 years of age or older require their own DS login. Children 12 years old or younger will have their Patient Portal information viewable under their sponsor’s account. Children 13-17 are in a unique category where their information will not be viewable in the Patient Portal by the sponsor or the patient. There are legal challenges behind this change and the issue is being worked by higher headquarters, but a solution is not forecasted at this time.
Benefits of MHS GENESIS
One Integrated EHR System
- From basic training to retirement, and into the VA – it’s the same record
- Records travel to next duty station (no more paper records)
- Same EHR with all services and at all bases
- Access to Joint Health Information Exchanges (sharing of medical information with select civilian providers)
Patient Portal
- 24/7 Access to your Electronic Health Record
- Exchange Secure Messaging with your care team
- Pharmacy Renewals
- Make On-Line Appointments
- View laboratory and test results
- Fill out forms on Clipboard
- Research health information on Health Library
Joint Health Information Exchanges
Joint Longitudinal Viewer
- Provides access to legacy medical documents for providers
- Gives providers a faster and more complete understanding of a beneficiaries’ health history
- For more information about JLV, see these Frequently Asked Questions and article
Impacts to Patient Care
These are the challenges we’ll face until we get back to our baseline (estimated 1 month)
Appointments
- Duration of patient / provider consults may be longer
- Less appointments available
- Less military-specific appointments (flight-physicals / pre-deployment & end-of-service physicals)
Pharmacy
Patient Portal
- Requesting refills is not a feature; however, refills can still be called in by phone
How we’re mitigating the impacts of the transition for our patients:
Over the years as MHS GENESIS has deployed across the Military Health System, each wave deployment has been smoother than the last. During the first few weeks leading up to and after Go-Live, we’ll have a comprehensive support staff on site.
- Integration architects who have been on the project for 6+ years and gone through several Go-Lives will be along side us.
- 30+ medics visiting from bases who have been using MHS GENESIS at their home stations for years to be our over-the-shoulder help as we become proficient with the new system.
- We’re also sending a team of Yokota medics to a base already using MHS GENESIS so they can get hands-on experience with real patients prior to Go-Live.
Clinics will have their first official day of scheduled patient care on October 30 (Monday). On the Saturday before, our medics will have a Soft Go-Live to ensure everything is running smoothly and make any final adjustments.
To help with access, appointments will be added on Saturdays in November.