MiCare improves healthcare service at Andersen Published Oct. 23, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Emily A. Bradley 36th Wing Public Affairs ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Patients of ¬¬the 36th Medical Group can communicate securely and privately with their health care team anywhere, anytime due to an Air Force-wide expansion of the secure messaging service called MiCare. The secured messaging service is fully operating and available to Andersen patients through the MiCare portal at http://www.afms.af.mil/micare. Patients can register for a MiCare account at the portal using a Common Access Card or in person at the clinic. "MiCare simply taps into the modern day world and integrates your health care requirements with today's technologies," said Capt. Allen Sollenberg Jr., 36th MDG practice manager. "The patient can securely login and be confident that their information remains private. MiCare complies with the Privacy Act and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act" MiCare offers 24-hour access for patient's concerns while simultaneously reducing reliance on telephone counsels and office visits. This immediate access to information will decrease visits to the clinic for smaller problems while making more time available for patients with more immediate concerns. This program also benefits patients by providing them access to their own healthcare information, test results, advice about non-urgent symptoms, private communication with their healthcare team, medication renewal, copies of immunization records and physician-approved health resource links. "MiCare will make routine health care more convenient for our patients, while reducing unnecessary visits to the military treatment facility, thus freeing up our providers to see more acute patients," said Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, Air Force Surgeon General in an Air Force Medical Service press release. "This is an important goal in Air Force Patient-Centered Medical Home." In addition, MiCare will offer patients secure access to their personal health record in the near future, according to AFMS officials. The PHR feature will allow patients to view medical information in a centralized, online location. Officials emphasized that this has not been an option for patients in the past, making it difficult for them to keep track of health information coming from different doctors, treatment locations, emergency providers and overseas stations. To register for MiCare or for more information, please contact the 36th Medical Group by calling 671-366-WELL (9355).