Modernization
VA-DOD Health Exchange Adds 15,000-Member Hospital Network
The CommonWell Health Alliance officially joined the joint health information exchange, broadening the government’s ability to digitally share patient data with private health care providers.
Modernization
VA Takes Important Step in Prep for New Health Records Launch
The Veterans Affairs Department successfully transferred data of thousands of patients to its new electronic health records system.
Modernization
VA Officials Hope to Wrap Training, Testing Before October Go-Live of EHR Program
Despite numerous obstacles, the Veterans Affairs Department expects to be ready for the October 24 deployment date its new electronic health records system.
Digital Government
GAO Issues Definitive List of Most Important Federal IT Acquisitions
The Government Accountability Office scored more than 100 federal IT projects and offered detailed breakdowns of the most “essential mission-critical IT acquisitions.”
Modernization
Coast Guard Begins Deploying Pentagon’s New Electronic Health Records System
The service kicked off a deployment schedule that aims to have all land-based clinics using DOD’s MHS GENESIS by 2024.
Modernization
VA Launches New Patient Scheduling Tool as Part of Records Modernization Project
The resource will be unleashed enterprisewide down the line.
Modernization
VA Restarts Electronic Health Record Rollout
The initial deployment at a Spokane, Washington, medical center is now scheduled for October, while the new scheduling system will begin rolling out in August.
Policy
Trump Executive Order Aims to Make Some Pandemic-Induced Telehealth Expansions Permanent
The president's directive also targets improvements to rural health care.
Modernization
VA Wants a Veteran-Owned Business to Upgrade Wichita Facility’s IT Ahead of Health Records Rollout
The deployment of Veterans Affairs’ new electronic health record program has been on hold while the agency deals with COVID-19 but the agency wants to get Wichita’s infrastructure ready to roll.
Modernization
VA Wants to Automate Digitization of its 5-Mile-High Electronic Health Record Backlog
Veterans Affairs is looking to robotic process automation to help digitize its backlog and integrate with the new electronic health record platform.
Digital Government
NIH Unveils Centralized Resource for COVID-19 Patient Data
Insiders hope it will “serve as the foundation for addressing future public health emergencies.”
Digital Government
Watchdog: VA Needs To Include More Specialists in Electronic Health Record Decisions
A new audit found Veterans Affairs’ EHR Councils were set up well and are doing good work, but need better outreach and communication to reach key stakeholders.
Digital Government
Protect Patient Data During COVID-19 Outbreak, Federal Agencies Warn
The Defense Department, FBI and other agencies offer steps on how care facilities can secure personal health information.
Modernization
IG: VA Knew Infrastructure Upgrades Wouldn’t Meet Timeline For March Health Records Rollout
Severe staffing shortages, infighting and lack of comprehensive planning for infrastructure improvements would have handicapped the multibillion-dollar project, the inspector general said.
Modernization
VA and DOD Now Default to Sharing Patient Data with Private-Sector Providers
The joint electronic health records management office launched an information exchange program to make it easier to share patient data with thousands of “community partners.”
Digital Government
Lawmakers Push CDC for New Demographic Data on Coronavirus Patients
A group of 17 lawmakers asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collect sex, race, ethnicity and other information to spot potential inequities in health care.
Modernization
VA Delays Major IT Programs to Focus on COVID-19
The initial rollout of the new electronic health records system will be pushed out—again—as well as pilots for the new scheduling system. A third, integral effort remains on track.
Modernization
Defense Department Halts Health Records Rollout During COVID-19
The pause is in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Modernization
New Federal Rules Will Pave the Way for Electronic Health Records on Smartphones
Officials said it’s part of a push to give Americans more control over their personal data.
Modernization