Four notes:
1. In May 2018, the VA signed a $10 billion, 10-year deal with Cerner. Under the deal, the VA will transition all of its patient records from its homegrown VistA EHR to a Cerner system.
2. In its policy recommendations, the veterans coalition said the VA should staff its EHR modernization office with a qualified team and appoint a Veterans Health Administration CIO to ensure a successful EHR transition.
3. The coalition also urged Congress to fund VistA’s maintenance until the Cerner system is ready for use — that means until the Cerner EHR is “not just implemented, but fully adopted and sustained.”
4. The coalition also expressed concern that the VA has said its Cerner system will be the same as the Defense Department’s EHR, even though the two agencies have different medical needs. The DOD has been in the process of implementing a Cerner EHR since 2017.
“VA must ensure the new [EHR modernization project] supports VA’s model of healthcare delivery,” the policy recommendations read.
To access the full list of policy recommendations, click here.
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