Senate Hearing on VA Electronic Health Record Modernization
January 1, 2015
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The Frame
The committee is overseeing a multi-billion dollar IT modernization effort that will determine how 27 million veterans and service members have their medical records managed and how they schedule healthcare appointments.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Veterans
Veterans are the primary users of the VA healthcare system and will be directly impacted by changes to record-keeping and appointment scheduling.
Department of Veterans Affairs
The agency is responsible for implementing the IT modernization and managing the transition to new health record standards.
Taxpayers
Taxpayers are responsible for funding the multi-billion dollar IT modernization efforts.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2015.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The GAO placed VA healthcare on its 'high risk' list due to IT mismanagement, fraud, and waste.
- Approximately 250,000 service members transition from the DOD to the VA annually.
- The goal is to create a seamless, 100% electronic transmission of health records between the DOD and VA.
- The committee is evaluating whether to use a commercial off-the-shelf system, a hybrid system, or a custom development for the VA's VistA electronic health record system.
- Senator Kirk proposed using an open-source model for medical records to create a federal industry standard.
- The VA is currently facing significant challenges with its medical appointment scheduling system.
- Cybersecurity is identified as an urgent priority due to the need for data sharing between the VA, private providers, and the DOD.
- The subcommittee is monitoring the potential for using data analytics (such as sepsis tracking) to improve patient outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the VA's IT system considered 'high risk'?
What is the main goal of the electronic health record (EHR) project?
What is the status of the VA's appointment scheduling system?
Why It Matters
The committee is overseeing a multi-billion dollar IT modernization effort that will determine how 27 million veterans and service members have their medical records managed and how they schedule healthcare appointments.
News Coverage
Lobbying Activity
WHEAT SHROYER GOVERNMENT RELATIONS LLC
on behalf of AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETISTS
VAN SCOYOC ASSOCIATES
on behalf of EJ WATER COOPERATIVE, INC.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Open Source Advocacy
Chairman Kirk is actively pushing for an open-source, industry-standard approach to electronic health records, citing the Android operating system as a successful model.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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