New health assessment begins this month Published June 20, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Chris Bolen 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- Grissom personnel who are familiar with the online health assessment website are probably aware that the system is on the way out. Replacing it is a system close to and more aligned with the current active duty operations. The Preventive Health Assessment-Individual Medical Readiness system -- or PIMR -- provides single point access for a reservist's physicals, vision, immunizations, occupational health, dental and other items. The system also provides global access to an individual's records even when on temporary duty or deployed. PIMR was originally scheduled to go online in November, but due to changing requirements and the desire to speed the transition to the more centralized system the date was moved up to July. "The PIMR has a number of advantages," explains Master Sgt. Lisa Keller, NCOIC of physical exams, 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron. "All components of physical exams are fed into one computer system." "This provides a snapshot and total record on the computer screen that can be viewed at one place," she continued. The system is also utilized by active duty Air Force and provides complete access to an individual's history. Grissom is the second test base to transition to this new system. "Grissom is the only stand alone reserve base selected to date to go online with this system," Sergeant Keller said. "The fact that we were chosen to be a test site speaks well for us." Among the changes with the new system is the timing of yearly physicals. Previously tied to a person's birth month, the new system restarts the clock from the actual date of the last physical. "It will now be a 12 month to the day cycle," she states. "Birth month no longer matters." The open period to fill in the online questionnaire has been cut in half from 180 days to 90 days prior to the physical. Fasting lab work is no longer required for most reservists. The exception being occupations which specifically require it, such as firefighters. HIV blood drawings however, will still be required every two years. "This change will help simplify many actions," says Tech. Sgt. Tina Hoover, chief of personnel relocations. "The reports that can be pulled from the system are really nice, even awesome," she continued. "These reports can organize information into multiple forms like groups, or squadrons," she noted. "Another big advantage," notes Sergeant Keller "is that an individual is not going to get things they really do not need." "This should provide much better patient care."
