After seven years of faithful service to the U.S. Navy, the Navy's medical information management and information technology support organization (NAVMISSA) was disestablished during a ceremony, Sept. 30.

Rear Adm. Raquel C. Bono, director, National Capital Region Medical Directorate and chief, Navy Medical Corps, presided over the disestablishment ceremony.

"NAVMISSA's origins were based on an emerging electronic age in health care delivery. It became very important for Navy Medicine to understand complex data systems and harness that information so the entire Navy Medicine enterprise could make more informed decisions. NAVMISSA led that effort," said Bono.

Established in 2008, NAVMISSA was chartered to manage the Navy's medical IM/IT systems. To enable joint collaboration, NAVMISSA was strategically located in San Antonio, Texas, geographically close to the United States Army Medical Information Technology Center (USAMITC) and the Air Force Medical Operations Agency (AFMOA).

During its existence, NAVMISSA developed and deployed a technological solution for health clinics across the Marine Expeditionary Forces, ensuring that warfighters continued to have a documented health care record.

As the executive agent for secure messaging, NAVMISSA also led the tri-service effort to ensure asynchronous communication between 9.7 million beneficiaries and their providers for 56 hospitals and 365 clinics worldwide.

NAVMISSA's information assets, personnel and responsibilities will integrate with the Defense Health Agency (DHA), allowing Navy Medicine to continue its medical readiness mission while achieving cost-savings through a shared medical support services structure across the Military Health System.

"This is an opportunity to reflect on what NAVMISSA was, what it meant to Navy Medicine, and how our people will impact the future of military medicine," said Capt. Paul Hammer, NAVMISSA'S commanding officer.

"The job isn't over, it's just changing. Our mission remains the same - to ensure the medical readiness of every Sailor, Marine and their families around the world. That's something to be proud of," Hammer said.

Navy Medicine is a global health care network of 63,000 personnel that provide health care support to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, their families and veterans in high operational tempo environments, at expeditionary medical facilities, medical treatment facilities, hospitals, clinics, hospital ships and research units around the world.

For more news from Navy Medicine, visit www.navy.mil/.