EHR modernization

Development challenges were behind the decision to delay the rollout of an initial set of electronic health record capabilities at the first site, the Department of Veterans Affairs told members of Congress.

The decision to delay the initial rollout of new electronic health record capabilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs will get a closer look from Congress this week, as the inspectors general at both VA and the Defense Department announced the start of a rare, joint audit of the agencies’ EHR modernization efforts.

An ever-growing to-do list from Congress and $1 billion in technical debt are behind the Department of Veterans Affairs’ push to modernize.

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 president’s nominees for the Veterans Affairs Department’s chief information officer and accountability and whistleblower protection director promised they would spark a long-awaited culture change at the agency.

New House Veterans Affairs Technology Modernization Subcommittee Chairman Jim Banks (R-Ind.) offered a preview of his oversight plans for VA’s electronic health record initiative.

The Veterans Affairs Department says it will begin deployment of a new electronic health record at three sites in the Pacific Northwest in October, and the system will be implemented at those sites by March 2020.