Correction: Aug. 14, 2020 – This article was updated to indicate August 2020 for CSS go-live. The article had previously indicated October 2020.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization (OEHRM) is moving forward with the launch of the Centralized Scheduling Solution (CSS), a new patient-appointment management tool that will make medical visits more efficient for health care providers and Veterans. The scheduling tool is expected to go live at the Chalmers P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Center in Columbus, Ohio, in August 2020.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, VA opted to shift focus from the launch of its new electronic health record (EHR) at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, to the implementation of CSS, allowing VA staff in the Pacific Northwest to prioritize Veteran care and clinical operations. As an outpatient clinic, the Columbus medical facility and its CSS deployment activities are less affected by COVID-19 restrictions.
Due to COVID-19, OEHRM has maintained a nonintrusive posture since early April, but has continued to advance its mission through virtual meetings and activities, keeping the health and safety of patients and clinicians as its top priority.
VA is working closely with its contractor, Cerner Corp.; the Department of Defense; the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization Program Office; and other key partners to analyze the effects of COVID-19 on the overall EHR effort.
For more information, please see the following resources:
- VA’s Public Health response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- What Veterans need to know about coronavirus
More Stories
| August 23, 2022
VA has the Veteran’s back when it comes to cybersecurity and data privacy
With few exceptions, most of us are online. That means our personal information, including personal health information (PHI), is online, too. As VA transitions to a new electronic health record (EHR) system ― the software that stores health information and tracks patient care — security of PHI is a critical element.
| August 16, 2022
How DoD program leader is transforming military health
Holly Joers is the sort of champion you want on your side. The program executive officer for Defense Healthcare Management Systems, she brims with excitement when discussing the future of health care for Veterans and active-duty service members.
| June 30, 2022
VA adjusts electronic health record rollout schedule to assure continued success
To allow additional time to prepare for implementation, VA recently updated the deployment schedule of its new electronic health record (EHR) system.
