LESSON 2
ARMY HEALTH RECORDS (HRECs)
SECTION I. GENERAL
2-1.
PURPOSE OF THE HEALTH RECORD
a. The Health Record is a permanent, continuous, locally available file of
medical information which is initiated when an individual enters military service and
additional documents prepared when the member receives medical and dental care on
an excused-from-duty or outpatient basis. Information of value in the medical care of an
individual is made continuously available to Medical Department personnel, except
during active combat.
b. The primary purpose of the Health Record (HREC) is to ensure that AMEDD
personnel have concise but complete medical history of everyone on active duty or
active duty for training. It will help medical officers to advise commanders on training
and using their personnel. It will also provide a record which will help physical
evaluation boards appraise the physical fitness of Army members and their eligibility for
benefits, in the case of U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) or Army National Guard (ARNG)
personnel, the HREC accelerates mobilization. The HREC also serves other purposes.
For example, it makes the adjudication of claims easier; it is an important source of
medical research information; and its dental portion makes the identification of
deceased persons possible when other means cannot.
c. The Health Record itself is made up of very specific medical and dental
forms authorized for use in the HREC. When completed with information about the
individual service member, these forma are placed in a DA Form 3444 Series file folder.
The file is also completed with specific data on the individual service member.
d. Because the HREC is basic to all medical records maintained by the
Army for active duty personnel, it is important that all Patient Administration Division
officers, NCOs, and enlisted personnel be well informed on the use, maintenance, and
disposition of HRECs.
NOTE:
The terms "record" and "file" are used interchangeably in this subcourse.
2-2 .
FOR WHOM PREPARED AND MAINTAINED
a. Health Records are prepared and kept for all Army personnel. This
includes active duty personnel, Reserve Component (USAR and ARNG) personnel, and
cadets of the U.S. Military Academy. Army Reserve and National Guard HRECs are
prepared and kept by the custodian of personnel records.
MD0751
2-2