The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) announced the publication of two new Occupational Health (OH) and Medical Matrix Online (MMO) listservs, April 25.

The listservs represent significant enhancements supporting global communications within the Occupational Health and Environmental Programs communities within the U.S Navy and Marine Corps.

After having identified a global communications gap in the OH community, NMCPHC teamed up with U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED), Navy Medicine East, Navy Medicine West, and the OH specialty leader to create electronic mailing lists, or listservs, for the OH and MMO communities.

"It has been very helpful because pertinent information is now coming from one unified point of contact," said Adriene Simmons, NME regional OH program manager. Previously, information was shared across several, and sometimes outdated listservs, which created confusion among providers and subject-matter experts about which was the "official" list.

Establishing this streamlined communications process has facilitated efficient and effective dissemination of information from BUMED, NME, NMW, and the specialty leader to OH providers around the world.

"I am pleased to see that there are more interactions and clarification of information regarding how clinics incorporate changes into their practice," said Capt. Alan Philippi, department head for OEM.

Currently, the listservs generate a minimum of 2-3 questions from the community after a message is disseminated, which are then forwarded to the appropriate subject-matter expert for response. This fast interaction with the community leads to more engagement with external stakeholders.

The OH listserv is primarily comprised of OH providers and nurses in the field. It currently provides communications regarding BUMED and NME/NMW policy updates, vacancy announcements, and other pertinent information. The MMO listserv is comprised of MMO users, which extend beyond OH providers and nurses, and provides information on MMO downtime and updates.

MMO is the online application that is the authoritative source of guidance for Occupational Medical Surveillance and Certification Exams throughout the Navy. The MMO replaced PC Matrix March 31. The purpose of the MMO is to streamline several tasks for the provider while functioning similarly to the now defunct PC Matrix. Examples include:

* Selecting one or more Matrix programs and exam types will generate a printable, fillable PDF of the corresponding SF-600 or of an abridged "AHLTA Checklist" exam report, which is designed to assist those who prefer to use AHLTA templates versus other templates. AHLTA is the electronic medical record system used by DOD medical providers.

* Choosing programs that have the option to include associated physician opinion letters will reveal download links for fillable PDFs of the sample letters.

* Timely updates to ensure the OH community has the most current information at their disposal as the Medical Matrix Manual is easily accessible as a downloadable PDF on the MMO website.

Since January, both the OH and MMO listservs have increased in size and have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from its stakeholders. Listserv administrators are particularly excited about the growth of the MMO listserv.

Additionally, since Jan. 19, the MMO listserv has seen a 31 percent increase in the number of users. Individuals can send the names of new people who should be added, or request access to the listservs themselves via an email stating that lists they should be a part of.

For more information on MMO or to request an MMO account contact NMCPHC at: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/occupational-and-environmental-medicine/oemd/Pages/medical-matrix-online.aspx


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