Electronic Health Records: DOD and VA Interoperability Efforts Are Ongoing; Program Office Needs to Implement Recommended Improvements
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have long-standing efforts to increase sharing of data between their health information systems. However, while the departments have progressively increased electronic health information sharing, questions have been raised about when and to what extent the departments intend such sharing capabilities to be fully achieved. To expedite the exchange of electronic health information between the two departments, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 included provisions directing DOD and VA to jointly develop and implement, by September 30, 2009, fully interoperable electronic health record systems or capabilities that are compliant with applicable federal interoperability standards. Such systems and capabilities are important for making patient information more readily available to health care providers in the departments, reducing medical errors, and streamlining administrative functions. In addition, the act established an interagency program office to be a single point of accountability for the departments' efforts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA514493
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office