Letter: Revamping funding opens doors for new systems

In regard to “Congress fine-tunes military health IT funding,” what a terrific opportunity to modernize the quality of patient service and improve the future value of investments.

Seeing the information systems on the inside is scary and creating billion-dollar bridges between the Defense Department and Veterans Affairs Department systems will be unsuccessful and unweilding. 

We have a lot of experience maintaining large HMO patient care databases, and the federal government should require an almost commercial approach that takes the best of breed instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.

Starting with a commercial-like implementation would give users -- patients and professionals -- the friendliest graphic user interfaces and most logical forms. It would also eliminate most of the unique business rules that DOD and VA are holding onto more out of legacy than necessity. 

Starting fresh will also simplify the database for developers of special interfaces like the post-traumatic stress disorder/traumatic brain injury, WoundedWarrior, HART and theater applications.

Stephen Castellari

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