The delay, which goes until June 2023, will allow VA to address challenges with the system and ensure it’s functioning optimally.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it is delaying upcoming deployments of the Oracle Cerner electronic health record (EHR) system until June 2023. The delay will give VA the opportunity to address challenges with the system and ensure it’s functioning optimally for veterans and VA health care personnel.
“Right now, the Oracle Cerner electronic health record system is not delivering for veterans or VA health care providers – and we are holding Oracle Cerner and ourselves accountable to get this right,” said Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Donald Remy, who has oversight over the EHR program. “We are delaying all future deployments of the new EHR while we fully assess performance and address every concern. Veterans and clinicians deserve a seamless, modernized health record system, and we will not rest until they get it.”
During the delay, VA will work to correct outstanding issues before they restart deployments at other VA medical centers. VA will continue to focus on the five facilities where the new system has already been deployed to ensure every patient is receiving quality health care. Additionally, VA is sending letters to every veteran who may have been impacted by these system challenges. These letters will ask veterans to contact VA through the call center or online if they have experienced a delay in medications, appointments, referrals, or test results. Once they reach out, these veterans can expect a member of their care team to follow up with them within five business days to resolve the issue.
VA began the process of overhauling and modernizing their health record system in 2017. The new EHR system is a single, shared platform between VA, the Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). By using a single platform, information will be able to be shared among VA, DoD and USCG. The new system will also allow providers access to EHR data for patients who are also seen by certain community providers or health systems. Participating providers will also have a single point of entry to request access to health data for their patients.
To learn more about VA’s overall EHR modernization effort, visit ehrm.va.gov.
- Veterans Healthcare