Denis McDonough: VA Aims to Fix EHR System Under Modernization Program Reset

The Department of Veterans Affairs has ceased upcoming deployments of the Oracle Cerner electronic health record system as part of a program reset aimed at addressing EHR-related issues that were identified at five VA health facilities during the “assess and address” period.

VA said Friday it will resume EHR deployment activities once the system has met several criteria, including improvements in the experience of veterans and clinicians and enhanced productivity levels at sites where the system is in use.

“This reset period will allow us to focus on fixing what’s wrong, listening to those we serve, and laying the foundation for a modern electronic health record that delivers for Veterans and clinicians,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough.

The department noted that it will continue to work with Oracle Cerner to address all outstanding issues and is making contract changes to make the vendor more accountable to ensure the delivery of a reliable EHR platform.

The EHR system is currently in use at Spokane VA Health Care System, Roseburg VA Health Care System, VA Walla Walla Health Care, VA Southern Oregon Health Care and VA Central Ohio Health Care System.

VA said the scheduled deployment of the EHR system at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in Chicago in March 2024 will continue as planned.

Cerner, which Oracle acquired in June 2022, received a potential $10 billion contract in 2018 to help VA replace its Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture, also known as VistA, with a modernized EHR system.

Denis McDonough: VA Aims to Fix EHR System Under Modernization Program Reset

Health information technology will be the focus of discussions at GovCon Wire’s virtual event on May 17. Visit the GCW events page to see the full speaker lineup for the “Healthcare IT – Digital Transformation Forum.”

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