Below are answers to frequently asked questions about VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program and the Federal electronic health record (EHR).
What is an electronic health record?
An EHR is a technology used by health care providers to store and track patient data. It is a digital version of a patient’s chart and health record.
What is the Electronic Health Record Modernization program?
VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program is managing the transition from VA’s current medical records system, Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA), to the Federal EHR. The EHRM program will transition VA from more than 130 instances of VistA to a single Federal EHR shared between VA, DoD, the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and participating community care providers.
VA’s EHRM Integration Office (EHRM-IO) in partnership with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), is working to establish awareness and the knowledge and skills necessary for VA facility leaders and staff to successfully adopt and use the new system.
Why is VA transitioning to the Federal EHR system?
The Federal EHR implementation and the accompanying modernization of the technologies that connect to it will support VA’s mission into the future, enabling the continued provision of high-quality, safe, and efficient health care to those who have served in our nation’s military.
- Clinical staff have greater access to comprehensive Veteran health information in the systems they use every day.
- A single Federal EHR will better support nationally standardized health care delivery, allowing innovations and best practices to more effectively be identified, shared, and adopted.
- Consistent metrics obtained from an enterprise EHR improve efficiency and health system management.
- The workforce’s ability to more easily transfer between care settings (both virtually and in-person) supports Veterans’ unique needs, brings clinical expertise to Veterans regardless of their location, and better matches clinical supply with demand.
- Health care technology advancements are implemented faster.
- Partnering with a commercial EHR vendor helps VA sustain the modernization of our health IT infrastructure into the future.
What are the benefits of the Federal EHR for Veterans?
Adopting the same EHR system as DoD and other federal agencies is a Veteran-centric approach that will support service members as they transition from military service. A shared system means that health information entered into a Veteran’s health record by a doctor, pharmacy, or lab can be accessed by providers and staff at other facilities when they need it.
Where is the Federal EHR currently in use?
The Federal EHR is now in use at six VA medical centers (VAMCs), including a joint DoD/VA facility, 25 associated clinics, and 104 remote services (such as VA call centers, consolidated patient accounting centers, clinical resource hubs and the like, which support the medical centers and clinics). The Federal EHR is currently used at the following sites:
- Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center (Spokane, WA)
- Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center (Walla Walla, WA)
- Roseburg VA Health Care System (Roseburg, OR)
- VA Southern Oregon Healthcare System (White City, OR)
- VA Central Ohio Health Care System (Columbus, OH)
- Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (North Chicago, IL)
When will the Federal EHR be deployed at my facility?
On December 20, 2024, VA announced that it is beginning early-stage planning to deploy the Federal electronic health record (EHR) system to four Michigan facilities — Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Detroit, and Saginaw — in mid-2026. This decision comes after VA made critical improvements to the EHR system during a pause in deployments announced in April 2023.
Restarting deployment activities in FY 2025 will drive VA’s EHR Modernization program forward and set the necessary groundwork for the continued rollout of the Federal EHR enterprise-wide. While VA begins deployment activities at the four sites in Michigan, it is concurrently developing the implementation schedule and cost estimate for site deployments through May 2028. More information on VA’s longer-term Federal EHR deployment schedule will be shared once it is finalized.
How can Veterans prepare for the Federal EHR system?
Veterans can prepare for the launch by making sure their communications preferences, contact information, and addresses are up to date in their VA profile at VA.gov before the Federal EHR launches at their facility.
Veterans whose legal name has changed may also need to update their information in DoD’s Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). For more information and how to make updates, visit: How do I Change My Name In My DEERS Record?
Veterans can also read the EHRM fact sheets.
What precautions are being taken to keep Veteran data secure as the Federal EHR is implemented nationwide?
VA is committed to guarding the privacy and security of Veteran information, and the Federal EHR is no exception. VA’s online patient portals are secure. VA follows strict security policies and practices to protect personal health information. Only Veterans and their VA health care team will have access to this information. VA complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the HIPAA Privacy Rule and the Privacy Act of 1974. Protecting Veteran health information is a top priority for VA, and Oracle Health and VA have established a secure transfer process between VistA and the Oracle Health data center that is compliant with national cybersecurity standards.
