Electronic Health Records VA's Efforts Raise Concerns about Interoperability Goals and Measures, Duplication with DOD, and Future Plans
Abstract
Even as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has undertaken numerous initiatives with the Department of Defense (DOD) that were intended to advance the ability of the two departments to share electronic health records, the departments have not identified outcome-oriented goals and metrics to clearly define what they aim to achieve from their interoperability efforts. In an August 2015 report, GAO recommended that the two departments establish a time frame for identifying outcome-oriented metrics, define related goals as a basis for determining the extent to which the departments' systems are achieving interoperability, and update their guidance accordingly. Since that time, VA has established a performance architecture program that has begun to define an approach for identifying outcome-oriented metrics focused on health outcomes in selected clinical areas and has begun to establish baseline measurements. GAO is continuing to monitor VA's and DOD's efforts to define metrics and report on the interoperability results achieved between the departments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 13, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1170266
Entities
People
- Valerie C. Melvin
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office