The U.S. Department of Defense has shifted control of the health IT budget from the Military Health System and Tricare Management Activity to Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for health IT acquisitions, technology and logistics, according to a Nextgov report.
According to the report, DOD officials were becoming frustrated with the health system's efforts to procure new health IT systems, independently and in partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs. For the past five years, the DOD and VA have been attempting to integrate their electronic health record systems and have spent at least $1 billion in the process.
In an emailed statement, a DOD official said: "As you would expect, Secretary Chuck Hagel is consulting with many members of his leadership team on how to move ahead in achieving the joint goals of the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs integrated [EHR] initiative, which are ensuring that all health data for an individual can be brought together into a seamless EHR and modernizing or replacing our legacy health information technology systems. Once Secretary Hagel has decided on the way forward we will provide further details."
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According to the report, DOD officials were becoming frustrated with the health system's efforts to procure new health IT systems, independently and in partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs. For the past five years, the DOD and VA have been attempting to integrate their electronic health record systems and have spent at least $1 billion in the process.
In an emailed statement, a DOD official said: "As you would expect, Secretary Chuck Hagel is consulting with many members of his leadership team on how to move ahead in achieving the joint goals of the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs integrated [EHR] initiative, which are ensuring that all health data for an individual can be brought together into a seamless EHR and modernizing or replacing our legacy health information technology systems. Once Secretary Hagel has decided on the way forward we will provide further details."
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