The State Department plans to deploy an electronic health record system worldwide for its medical offices to improve the quality and efficiency of the healthcare it delivers to its 50,000 diplomatic and federal employees and their families.
Besides primary care, the department provides mental health services, coordination of local medical care, medical evacuations and medical clearance assessments.
The State Department has requested information from vendors about the features and functionality of commercial ambulatory EHRs that could deliver the services the department needs, according to an announcement Dec. 1 in the Federal Business Opportunities Web site.
State said it will use the EHR in health units at U.S. embassies and consulates in 170 countries.
Those overseas health units vary in size and capabilities. For example, large Medevac centers coordinate medical evacuations in addition to primary healthcare and are staffed with physicians and other Foreign Service health practitioners, psychiatrists, locally hired nurses, and administrative personnel, according to the notice.
Large health units, which hire local clinical personnel in addition to Foreign Service practitioners, supply primary care, local hospitalization and regional administrative support.
However, medium health units have limited Foreign Service and locally hired clinical personnel for primary care and evacuate hospitalizations or complex cases, according to State. Small health units, often at a consulate or embassy in a small country, may only have a local nurse and occasionally a local physician, and only provide immunizations and first aid care.
