In May 2018, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began a 10-year effort to migrate Veteran health data into a modern electronic health record (EHR) that will give VA providers secure access to a patient’s complete medical history from the time they entered military service through their transition to Veteran status and beyond.

How VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) effort will affect each individual Veteran depends on two primary factors: whether their records (prior conditions, lab results, etc.) already exist in a digital form and when EHRM is being implemented in their region.

Q. I served and received care
before 1980, but have records
from after 1980. Will my records
be transferred to the new EHR?

A. Paper records that predate the
launch of VA’s current EHR will not
transfer to the new EHR. Veterans
must continue to retain these paper
records and share them with care
providers. With limited exceptions,
digital health records from care
received from a Department of
Defense (DOD) or VA provider will
be transferred to the new EHR and
can be accessed by VA providers.
Records held by providers outside
these health networks will not be
accessible from the new EHR.

Q. I began serving after 1980.
Will my records be transferred to
the new EHR?

A. With some limited exceptions,
digital health records from the DOD
and VA systems will be transferred
to the new EHR and can be accessed
by VA providers. Records held by
providers outside the military and
VA health network will not be
accessible from the new EHR.

Q. What will change in the future
for Veterans who enlisted after
EHRM is completed?

A. A Veteran’s entire health history
will begin to be available in one
EHR that follows them from the
time they enlist through their
transition to Veteran status and
beyond. Providers throughout the
VA network will have quick access to
complete patient records, helping
Veterans receive higher-quality
health care more efficiently.

WHERE ARE MY HEALTH RECORDS STORED NOW?

In 2019, VA completed a historic transfer of Veteran health records from its legacy electronic health record system to a new data center that also hosts military health records from DOD. This transfer did not include paper records predating the electronic system. In the past, VA and DOD have had limited capability to share health record information. As VA completes future phases of EHRM implementation, Veterans’ medical records from their years of active duty will reside alongside their postmilitary health records, and providers from both departments will be able to view, update and exchange patient data in one common, secure system.

WHEN WILL MY PROVIDER SWITCH TO THE NEW SYSTEM?

VA began deploying its new EHR in October 2020 at select VA medical facilities in the Pacific Northwest and will continue launching the system nationwide over the next several years. VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization Integration Office Deployment Schedule provides a high-level timeline of when each VA medical center can expect to begin and complete implementation of the EHR. Most Veterans will not see immediate changes to how they view their medical records or receive health care. VA is committed to maintaining and supporting its current EHR systems throughout the transition period to ensure there is no interruption in the accessibility and delivery of care. Veterans can expect to learn more as their local facilities prepare to migrate to the new EHR.

VA IS COMMITTED TO YOUR HEALTH

VA’s efforts to modernize its EHR systems are essential to its mission of providing the highest level of care to Veterans today and into the future.  For more information, visit www.digital.va.gov/ehr-modernization