WAMC: Enhancing Patient Care Through Virtual Technology
By Staff Report
Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) is enhancing patient care through the implementation of virtual healthcare technology. The primary care and outlying clinics began using My Military Health in December 2024, aiming to increase patient flexibility and improve overall health management.
Family Nurse Practitioner, Steven Jernigan, Hope Mills Medical Home conducting a virtual appointment with a patient.
In February 2025, the clinics conducted over 4,200 scheduled virtual visits, demonstrating the growing adoption and utilization of this technology.
“People engage in our care system not so that they can get an appointment, but so that they can have their needs met,” explained Lt. Col. Evan Trivette, chief of Family Medicine and commander for Primary Care Services. “With the My Military Health [portal], we aim to provide the right level and mode of care at the right time.”
Patients can now access medical care from any location with internet access, reducing the need for in-person visits and minimizing disruptions to their daily routines.
“We’re able to take care of a lot of issues right when the Soldier needs it, opposed to waiting for them to come in for an actual appointment,” said Capt. Timothy Karnuth, physician assistant with the 82nd Airborne Division. “What that means is that we have a shorter wait for an appointment, and open appointments to see the people who actually need to come in for physical exams or for musculoskeletal conditions.”
The virtual visits also increase scheduling flexibility for providers and leverages new technology “As a provider, I find the system easy to navigate to create provider generated visits,” said Dr. Omici Uwagbai, Family Medicine Physician, Robinson Health Clinic. “Just a few clicks of the mouse and I can send patients a link for a virtual visit.”
The virtual healthcare platform enables seamless communication between healthcare providers, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive and coordinated care. Patients can schedule a virtual appointment at any time and attend the scheduled virtual video appointment by phone, tablet or computer.
“I had some labs drawn,” said patient and retired Col. Roy Vernon. “I needed to talk about those labs as opposed to making an appointment with my provider. I got on to the MHS Genesis Patient Portal and asked questions. I got a phone call from the nurse who went into detail on every point, and she let me know, nothing to be concerned about. So instead of me having to make an appointment, sit down with a provider and take time out of my day, I was able to do it all from my truck, and I think that’s efficiency.”
The implementation of virtual appointments has yielded positive results. The medical facility has seen a 75% reduction in wait times, improved access to care for remote or deployed personnel, and a 25% improvement in patient satisfaction.
Womack plans to continue expanding its virtual healthcare capabilities, exploring new technologies and methods to improve care delivery and patient outcomes.
For more information about My Military Health, visit https://tricare.mil/mymilitaryhealth.
Article by Keisha Frith.
