The Veterans Administration’s health information exchange is facing technology issues
Recently, it was discovered by the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) that there had been numerous defects in technology related to the health information exchange in various VA facilities, that has been hindering utilisation.
The OIG has currently been interviewing and surveying 48 lower-complexity, Levels 2 and 3 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities.
The challenges
Watch dog has also interviewed the staff from the VHIE Program Office, and spoke with the Office of Information Technology, Office of Community Care, Office of Rural Health, Cerner, and two state HIEs.
OIG discovered that provider challenges required you to dual sign-in do that you can view the community health information through Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), JLV training, and why community partners are necessary. The providers’ concerns were the VA’s concerns as well.
The OIG took notes of the common concerns raised by the facilities, which includes knowing when community documentation was available and the time taken to find the document. The Veterans Health Information Exchange (VHIE) program heads said that JLV is the software that VA providers use to see community care records for patients, but there are no notifications go alert providers.
Lack of alerts had been a major complaint by most facilities. But those that were using VA Direct stated that they did receive an email when community providers shared health information. Previously, the providers at JLV had stated that “it took additional time and made it difficult to quickly review the information.”
Simply put, the following challenges creates a hindrance for a community provider to share information through a health information exchange. Despite all this, electronic exchange of health information has proved beneficial for the health professionals by improving patient safety, continuity of care, and cost reduction.
(Cover: HITInfrastructure)