Take command of personal healthcare Published March 8, 2013 56th Medical Group LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- MiCARE secure email messaging is an online service that will be available at the Luke outpatient clinic beginning Tuesday. MiCARE allows patients to take command of their healthcare by offering efficient electronic exchange between patients and their healthcare team. MiCARE allows for a secure exchange of health information, unlike a personal email account. With MiCARE, patients can request medication renewals, receive test and lab results, communicate online with a healthcare team about nonurgent symptoms, request a copy of immunization records and access a large library of patient education materials. In addition, patients will be able to receive a variety of secure email messages using MiCARE, including provider initiated email messages, responses to inquiries with advice on nonurgent matters, and reminder email messages for appointments. MiCARE will be implemented Air Force-wide, so once registered, members will remain in the system no matter where the Air Force takes them. Each member's healthcare team is dedicated to responding to all patient messages in a timely manner. They will work to respond to all messages generally within a 72-hour timeframe. It should be noted, urgent messages should not be communicated via MiCARE. Other benefits for patients using MiCARE include: · Get medical advice in writing instead of verbally · No "telephone tag" or waiting on hold · Monitor closely health issues through confidential online email communications without the inconveniences of traffic, parking or missing work · Get attention and direct contact with the healthcare team for nonurgent matters · Request medication refills · Receive laboratory, radiology and medical test results · Access to a library reviewed by board-certified healthcare professionals from leading health institutions in the U.S. Registration is a face-to-face process to ensure security of patient health information. Enrollment is initiated while visiting the provider at the MTF. Patients will also be given opportunities to enroll in advance of their next PCM visit over the next two months. All that's needed is to show a military identification card and provide name, social security number, birth date and email address. After the registration form is submitted to clinic staff, the member will be notified by email to finish enrollment. Responding to the email is a very important step. The registration will be completed by following the email instructions. Once registered, members are ready to start messaging with their healthcare team. The future of military health has arrived. Take time to register for MiCARE today at the primary care manager's office in the outpatient clinic. For more information, visit http://www.afms.af.mil/.