Cerner

Lawmakers are concerned the Department of Veterans Affairs didn’t do its due diligence in making the decision to adopt a new scheduling system from Cerner, the same contractor both the VA and Pentagon are using to overhaul their electronic health records.

The launch adds four new bases to the embattled GENESIS electronic health record system.

GAO said VA doesn’t have a comprehensive definition of its current VistA system, or how much it’s spending to keep it up and running.

Veterans Affairs says it will spend nearly $5 billion over next 10 years to maintain legacy electronic health record while implementing a separate, multi-billion-dollar system at facilities.

As the Department of Veterans Affairs continues to implement a new version of its community care program, lawmakers will also debate whether VA is spending too much on private care at the expense of other agency priorities.

The Department of Veterans Affairs said it may designate an independent arbitrator of sorts to oversee and manage joint decisions from VA and the Defense Department as the two agencies implement a new, commercial electronic health record (EHR).

Ed Meagher, a retired Department of Veterans Affairs chief technology office and deputy chief information officer, explained why VA is repeating mistakes of the past modernization projects.

Why does the Department of Veterans Affairs need Apple for mobile electronic health record, and why should Apple get a prescription cut?

Lawmakers on the House Veterans Affairs Committee said they’re still looking for more answers about VA’s budget, staffing and leadership plans for its massive, 10-year electronic health record modernization effort.

The organizational chart that maps out responsibilities for ensuring VA’s new electronic health record will work with DoD’s has 16 different boxes in it. That’s a worry for many lawmakers.