MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- It started out as just a normal day for Yasmin H. Granland, a stay-at-home mother supporting her husband in the military, but when she went to Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Health Clinic to finish up her plans for the day, she was offered a chance to sign up for Relay Health.
Little did she know she was about to be the 1,000th person to sign up.
“When I first came in they recommended me for Relay Health,” said Granland. “It was really easy to sign up for and it makes everything easy.”
Relay Health allows patients to securely email their doctors if they have any basic medical needs.
“With my husband being deployed at times and having to take care of work it is very convenient to get online and speak with my doctors, refill a prescription or do all the things I would normally have to come in to the hospital for,” said Granland.
“Relay Health is an electronic messaging system,” said Navy Capt. Shawn Niemann, Branch Health Clinic senior medical officer. “Rather than using outlook or other unsecured email, Relay Health is provided by a secure company contracted by the (Department of Defense).”
It used to be common for patients to email their doctors using personal or even military based accounts, because it was all that was available, but with the introduction of Relay Health, patients have the ability to easily and securely contact their doctors.
“In my opinion, communication is the most important part of your medical care so the patient needs to know what they need to have done,” said Niemann.
The BHC currently ranks thirteenth in the Naval healthcare enterprise for Relay Health signups.
Responses to questions, prescriptions filled and other interactions happen through the program.
“We have been proactive and have made sure we stay consistent with letting our patients know about Relay Health,” said Carmen M. Vega, registered nurse.
Relay Health has been live for less than a year and more than 1,000 eligible people have already signed up and use its services.
“We are here for the community,” said Vega. Relay Health is available to retirees, families, and DoD employees.