Straight from the Source is the FSJ space for the foreign affairs agencies to inform the FS community about new policies or innovations in operations. Please send your feedback as letters to journal@afsa.org or comment on the FSJ's LinkedIn page. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2025 47 across documents, risking miscommunication. Now, providers on both ends can simultaneously use the MPP to coordinate the needed care. MED launched the MPP in October 2024, and since then all encounters in Health Units have been documented electronically instead of on paper. This amounts to more than 100,000 patient encounters and counting. According to the Department of State’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ayan Ahmed Noor: “This is not just a technological upgrade; it’s a transformative step that will improve patient safety and outcomes, streamline workflows, and provide better data to inform decision-making.” How Did We Get Here? For decades, Foreign Service personnel and their families have carried hard-copy medical records from post to post to ensure their Health Unit had access to relevant medical information. Meanwhile, electronic health records have become the standard in the United States and across much of the world. The unique and complex needs of the department and its workforce complicated previous efforts to establish an appropriate electronic system, but in October 2023, MED launched an intensive effort to create a comprehensive system that is fit-forpurpose, responsive to the needs of patients and providers, and built to safeguard the privacy of patient records. The result of that sustained effort is the MED Provider Portal—the MPP. The first phase of the project—new digital tools for incoming Foreign Service members and families going through the medical clearance process—went live in January 2024. Since then, the project team has collaborated with providers from around the world to structure the MPP to meet the needs of the MED team and their unique patient community. What Does This Mean for You? The MPP means that your medical information will travel ahead of you, enabling Health Unit staff to see your medications, allergies, vaccination records, and health history whether you are traveling for temporary duty, emergency evacuation, or moving to a new assignment. It also means that your medical provider at post will always see your most current records instead of sorting through reams of paper to identify your needs or the needs of your family members. Moreover, MED’s medical clearance staff can work within the MPP platform to expedite clearance approvals and quickly address any questions that could slow their decision-making. Ultimately, better information means better care, and the MPP is a significant step forward in that regard. Privacy and Security in the MPP Platform Throughout the MPP development process, MED has prioritized the safety, security, and privacy of your health information, applying rigorous security technologies, including security features already in use by other federal agencies and major private health care providers. These technologies include the use of the department’s single-sign-on solution, Okta, for streamlined authentication, reducing the risk of password-related security breaches. The electronic health record also features role-based access control and specialized permissions to ensure that users only have access to the functions and data necessary for their roles, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access. In addition, the new electronic health record system is continuously monitored to ensure patient data and health records remain safe and secure. Coming Soon: The End of Paper Records Although the launch of the MPP does not mark the immediate demise of paper records, that day is coming. Development and deployment of a patient-facing portal is well underway. This portal, called myMED, will allow the foreign affairs community to engage directly, seamlessly, and digitally with MED. Capabilities will include uploading medical clearances, scheduling appointments, tracking prescriptions, and more. Together, the MPP and myMED will serve as the department’s official electronic health system and will mark the end of hardcopy medical records. As part of this process, MED welcomes feedback from the patient community and employs that feedback to make continuous improvements. As you engage with your medical provider and see the MPP in use, please take a moment to register your thoughts through the MED Feedback tool found on the bureau’s SharePoint page. n
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