The Department of Veterans Affairs revealed plans to resume the implementation of a new electronic medical record system by the end of fiscal year 2025. Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized the importance of having a single health record across the VA system that effectively communicates with the Department of Defense. The EHR modernization project had been put on hold for about a year while the VA worked with Oracle to improve system reliability and performance.
The implementation of the new EHR system has faced challenges related to patient safety and technical issues. Cerner, later acquired by Oracle, initially signed the contract for updating the VA EHR in 2018. However, only six medical centers have successfully integrated the new system so far. The VA renegotiated its contract with Oracle to hold the company accountable for various issues, including system outages, responsiveness to physician requests, and interoperability with other systems.
Concerns have been raised about risks to patient safety, with reports detailing scheduling and pharmacy issues, potentially contributing to a veteran’s death. Lawmakers have criticized the complex implementation process and expressed worry over the significant budget cuts for the EHR modernization project. The proposed budget for 2025 allocates $894 million for electronic health records modernization, a reduction of $969 million from the previous year. Despite the budget cuts, McDonough mentioned that there are additional funds available from the previous year to support the project as it exits the restart phase.
In summary, the VA is poised to resume the implementation of the new EHR system by 2025, aiming to enhance system reliability and interoperability. Challenges related to patient safety, technical issues, and budget cuts have been obstacles in the EHR modernization project, prompting the agency to work closely with Oracle to address these concerns and move the project forward.
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https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/va-oracle-cerner-ehr-rollout-resume-fy-2025-secretary-denis-mcdonough/713130/