A Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee has filed a lawsuit against the agency, claiming that the new Oracle-Cerner Electronic Medical Record (EHR) system discriminates against employees and veterans with disabilities. The lawsuit alleges that the EHR system is incompatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers used by visually impaired individuals. The legal basis of the claim lies in the violation of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which mandates federal agencies to acquire and utilize accessible technology. Laurette Santos, a licensed social worker for people with visual impairments at the VA Medical Center in Oregon, is leading the lawsuit.
Santos, who has been legally blind since 1988, relies on screen-reading software called JAWS to access information on her computer. She emphasizes the crucial role the EHR system plays in her job, as she collects data from veterans’ medical records. Santos alleges that she raised concerns about accessibility with VA and Cerner staff prior to the system’s launch, but her concerns were disregarded. The new EHR system’s incompatibility with Santos’ screen reader significantly hampers her ability to perform her job duties independently, as she was previously able to access veteran records and collaborate with other providers using JAWS with the VA’s legacy platform.
The lawsuit underlines broader concerns about the accessibility of the new EHR system for both VA employees and the veterans they serve. It stresses the importance of ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies to avoid creating barriers for individuals with disabilities. The VA has chosen not to comment on the ongoing litigation, and the outcome of the lawsuit will dictate what accessibility measures are implemented in Cerner’s EHR system moving forward.
Ultimately, the lawsuit highlights the impact of inadequate accessibility considerations in the development and implementation of technology systems within federal agencies. Disabilities should not be a barrier to employment or accessing healthcare, and it is imperative that technology is designed and implemented in a way that accommodates the needs of all individuals, including those with disabilities.
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https://hitconsultant.net/2024/07/02/blind-va-employee-sues-over-inaccessible-oracle-cerner-ehr/
