GEESEY: In Iraq, they’re doing physician consults using the TANBERG system, which provides a VTC [Video Telecon- ferencing] capability using a camera and a computer. There are a lot of bandwidth restrictions and challenges in-theater, and this particular solution can regulate the flow of voice and video based on avail- able bandwidth.
MIL EMBEDDED: Does the computer use a satellite uplink/downlink, or is it just plugged onto SIPR/NIPR?
GEESEY: It can do both SIPR and NIPR in Iraq, and they’re currently operating it on the NIPR. In Afghanistan, we’re currently operating it on the SIPR because there’s greater SIPR connectivity than NIPR connectivity there. So right now, they’re using the TANBERG in Iraq, but in Afghanistan they’re using MC4- supplied hardware, software, webcams, and headsets for provider-to-provider video teleconferencing.
MIL EMBEDDED: What’s the next step for MC4 technology?
GEESEY: The next step is to adapt a text- based secure chat capability using Army Knowledge Online [AKO]. A solider would be able to log in using their com- mon access card that identifies who the individual is. And then there would be a link on the AKO website that says there’s a mental health provider available; then if soldier wants to chat with someone, they could go ahead and click on that. This would be very useful in the field, as soldiers might receive the Dear Jane letter from home or something like that, or be bothered by a death of a family member or some other stressful event, combat event, or whatever. The part we’re working on now is what we call a chat queuing feature. So if today I go in and speak with Dr. Smith, and the next day I want to follow up with Dr. Smith, I’m able to choose Dr. Smith versus just the next available person. And with the right security features, the soldier could sit in the privacy of their own room and talk to a mental health provider without anybody knowing.
MIL EMBEDDED: Makes sense. You talked about telemedicine, remote surgery teleconsultations, and mental health professional conferencing and secure chats. Are these all to be implemented by DoD personnel?
MILITARY EMBEDDED SYSTEMS March/April 2011 19
GEESEY: Currently, all of the MC4 telemedicine activities are with either military providers or DoD-employed civilians. For CONUS, though, there’s a network and there are consultations pro- vided through the contracted support, contractor network, and Tri-Care support network. But right now in-theater, it’s just military-to-military providers.
MIL EMBEDDED: Are there active plans within MC4 to describe to the civilian population the things implemented in MC4?
GEESEY: There are several media outlet methods for that. As far as peer-reviewed journals, there has been some documen- tation and there’s actually an article that I’m collaborating on that we’re looking to get into a peer-reviewed journal at some point, talking about some of these tele- medicine accomplishments and uses in the combat zone.
MIL EMBEDDED: Going back to the technology … what about other future technologies for MC4 – anything else in the works?
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