Skip to main content

Military Health System

Test of Sitewide Banner

This is a test of the sitewide banner capability. In the case of an emergency, site visitors would be able to visit the news page for addition information.

Genome Sequencing Work at U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine

Image of Military personnel posing by Wright-Patterson AFB sign. A group stands outside the 711th Human Performance Wing’s U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, or USAFSAM, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Aug. 15, 2022. The individuals represent the USAFSAM Public Health and Preventive Medicine Department including epidemiologists, laboratorians, and programmatic support that provided SARS-CoV-2 sequencing support to the Department of Defense in response to the coronavirus. (Credit: Dr. Anthony Fries)

Editor’s note: This is the seventh article in a 7-part series that highlights the work of technicians and scientists working in Military Health System laboratories who worked to identify COVID-19 variants using special sequencing technology.

The U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, part of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711 Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, oversees the Department of Defense’s Global Respiratory Pathogen Surveillance Program. This program has a unique reach across the Military Health System and secures biological samples for sequencing from an incredibly expansive geographic footprint across the globe.

“The approach of the program is to capture a representative set of samples from MHS patients who show up each week to their health care provider with respiratory illness, such as COVID-19 and influenza,” said Dr. Anthony Fries, principal lead for the program at USAFSAM.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was essential in fostering communication among the partner laboratories, securing funding, and championing the need for genomic surveillance in the DOD, which was exemplified by their shepherding of the DOD SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing Action Plan.

Military medical personnel  prepare specimens in laboratory
From left: Laboratory technologists Carol Garrett, KelseyLanter, and Jennifer Meyer prepare specimens for sequencing analyses in the 711th Human Performance Wing’s U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace MedicinePublic Health Department at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Aug. 15,2022. The 711th Human Performance Wing is part of the Air Force ResearchLaboratory, the primary scientific research and development center for theDepartment of the Air Force.

USAFSAM has sequenced over 15,000 SARS-CoV-2 samples, the majority within DOD partner labs, and consistently had less than 14-day turn-around times for sample processing. Their unique access to samples from MHS populations throughout the United States and around the world has greatly aided ongoing surveillance of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants for the DOD. USAFSAM data are shared weekly with international databases where they are immediately interpreted and MHS beneficiary data are placed in context with the SARS-CoV-2 genomic data coming out from every corner of the globe.

“USAFSAM produces numerous reports and visualizations to aid public health personnel in interpreting the constantly changing SARS-CoV-2 variant landscape. USAFSAM has an extensive history of genomic surveillance for other viruses like influenza. However, the sequencing response and raw amount of data produced for SARS-CoV-2 has been a tectonic shift for public health,” said Fries.

“The daily amount of sequences produced across the globe allows scientists to churn through these data in near-real time as the virus is evolving and new variants emerge,” said Fries.

You also may be interested in...

Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System – Hearing Conservation (DOEHRS-HC)

Fact Sheet
5/8/2023

The Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System – Hearing Conservation (DOEHRS-HC) is an information system designed to support personal auditory readiness and help prevent hearing loss through early detection.

AHLTA 3.3

Fact Sheet
8/12/2022

AHLTA 3.3, a major component of the military’s electronic health record, is the primary clinical information system used by the military’s medical community to help generate, maintain, store and securely access data for 9.5 million beneficiaries.

Military Health System Research Program Notice of Funding Opportunity

Fact Sheet
3/31/2022

This flyer describes the process for applying for and receiving funding by the Military Health System Research Program.

Key Themes Digital Health Ethics

Fact Sheet
11/24/2021

This document outlines key themes and topics for providers applying ethics to the use of digital health technology in clinical practice.

Digital Health Competency Resource

Fact Sheet
7/23/2021

This reference provides information and links to online tools to aid MHS providers in maintaining competency in using digital health technology in clinical practice.

Cultural Humility for Providers

Fact Sheet
6/25/2021

This one page tip sheet provides cultural humility tips for MHS care providers.

Patient Accessible Notes Support Tool

Fact Sheet
5/26/2021

Clinical support tool to aid MHS providers in developing clinical notes that are understandable by patients.

Key Themes in Digital Ethics

Fact Sheet
2/16/2021

This fact sheet provides an overview of key themes in ethics related to the use of digital health in clinical practice.

Mobile Health Device Privacy and Security

Fact Sheet
2/16/2021

Tips and techniques for maintaining privacy and security of health information stored on mobile devices.

Solution Delivery Division

Fact Sheet
1/21/2021

The mission of Solution Delivery Division (SDD) is enhancing Health Service Delivery through exceptional Information and Technology.

TRICARE Online Patient Portal

Fact Sheet
12/21/2020

TRICARE Online Patient Portal (TOL) is the Department of Defense (DOD) online patient portal providing eligible beneficiaries access to military hospital and clinic appointing, prescription (Rx) refill, DOD PP Health Record personal health data, Secure Messaging, Service Separation/Retirement and Nurse Advice Line.

Essentris®

Fact Sheet
10/26/2020

The military’s inpatient electronic health record is used in acute hospital environments, providing point-of-care data capture at the patient’s bedside for physiological devices, fetal/uterine devices, ventilators and other patient care machines.

Composite Health Care System

Fact Sheet
10/26/2020

The Composite Health Care System (CHCS) allows clinicians to electronically perform patient appointment processes and scheduling, order laboratory tests, authorize radiology procedures and prescribe medications.

AHLTA Web Print

Fact Sheet
10/26/2020

AHLTA Web Print (AWP) is an application embedded in the AHLTA client workstation that provides the ability to print a patient’s entire AHLTA medical record or a subset, eliminating the need to print each AHLTA encounter or result separately.

TOL Patient Portal Secure Messaging

Fact Sheet
9/29/2020

TRICARE Online Patient Portal (TOLPP) Secure Messaging (SM) provides Military Health System patients who receive care at a military treatment facility or clinic access to a robust messaging capability, allowing authorized patients the ability to securely communicate with their health care team.

Page 1 of 3 , showing items 1 - 15
First < 1 2 3 > Last 
Refine your search
Last Updated: February 16, 2023
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery