[{"innerBlocks":[],"name":"core\/freeform","postId":1994,"blockType":{"name":"core\/freeform","keywords":[],"attributes":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"providesContext":[],"usesContext":[],"selectors":[],"supports":{"className":false,"customClassName":false,"reusable":false},"styles":[],"variations":[],"apiVersion":3,"title":"Classic","description":"Use the classic WordPress editor.","category":"text"},"originalContent":"If confirmed by the U.S. Senate as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie will make the implementation of a new $15.8 billion electronic health record system one of the VA\u2019s top priorities.

Wilkie told the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, which conducted a hearing on Wednesday to consider his nomination, that access to healthcare through the implementation of \u201ctransformative\u201d information technology modernization\u2014such as the acquisition of a commercial off-the-shelf Cerner EHR\u2014is vital to making the agency a world-class health services organization.

Last month, as VA acting secretary, Wilkie awarded Cerner a $10 billion EHR modernization contract to replace the agency\u2019s decades-old Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture. The agency expects the system implementation for the initial operating capability sites to begin October 1, with an estimated completion date of March 2020. Cerner\u2019s EHR will be rolled out enterprisewide as part of a 10-year contract.

\u201cThe new electronic health record system is the first step to modernize VA\u2014it modernizes our appointment system, it is also the template to get us started on the road to automate disability claims and our payment claims, particularly to our providers in rural America and those who administer emergency care,\u201d testified Wilkie.

More importantly, he said the Cerner system will achieve interoperability by connecting \u201cVA to the DoD, private doctors and private pharmacies to create a continuum of care and organize healthcare around the veteran\u2019s needs.\u201d

The VA intends to create a single common EHR system with the Department of Defense by leveraging a shared Cerner Millennium platform, and the agency\u2019s planned acquisition calls for aligning the deployment and implementation of the system with DoD\u2019s ongoing rollout of its own system\u2014called MHS GENESIS\u2014in order to achieve efficiencies.

However, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) expressed her concern that DoD\u2019s director of operational test and evaluation released a report last month that found the military\u2019s Cerner EHR system\u2014installed at four initial sites in the Pacific Northwest\u2014is neither operationally effective nor operationally suitable.

Also See<\/b>: DoD rollout of Cerner EHR deemed not operationally effective or suitable<\/a>

\u201cYou signed the contract to move forward on procuring the same (Cerner) system\u201d as the military, Murray told Wilkie. \u201cWe cannot see the same problems that DoD has experienced. So, I want to know what you will do to oversee the rollout and what specific steps you\u2019re going to take to make sure quality and access to care is not diminished.\u201d

Wilkie responded that he \u201cwill not commit to putting any program online until it is properly tested.\u201d

Nonetheless, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) voiced his concern that key executive positions at VA remain unfilled, including deputy secretary, under secretary for health and chief information officer. \u201cWe have a ton of leadership vacancies that\u2019s going to impact\u201d the EHR implementation, said Tester.

\u201cI pledge to the committee that I will move as rapidly as I can\u2014if confirmed\u2014to get those people in place,\u201d Wilkie pledged.","saveContent":"If confirmed by the U.S. Senate as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie will make the implementation of a new $15.8 billion electronic health record system one of the VA\u2019s top priorities.

Wilkie told the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, which conducted a hearing on Wednesday to consider his nomination, that access to healthcare through the implementation of \u201ctransformative\u201d information technology modernization\u2014such as the acquisition of a commercial off-the-shelf Cerner EHR\u2014is vital to making the agency a world-class health services organization.

Last month, as VA acting secretary, Wilkie awarded Cerner a $10 billion EHR modernization contract to replace the agency\u2019s decades-old Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture. The agency expects the system implementation for the initial operating capability sites to begin October 1, with an estimated completion date of March 2020. Cerner\u2019s EHR will be rolled out enterprisewide as part of a 10-year contract.

\u201cThe new electronic health record system is the first step to modernize VA\u2014it modernizes our appointment system, it is also the template to get us started on the road to automate disability claims and our payment claims, particularly to our providers in rural America and those who administer emergency care,\u201d testified Wilkie.

More importantly, he said the Cerner system will achieve interoperability by connecting \u201cVA to the DoD, private doctors and private pharmacies to create a continuum of care and organize healthcare around the veteran\u2019s needs.\u201d

The VA intends to create a single common EHR system with the Department of Defense by leveraging a shared Cerner Millennium platform, and the agency\u2019s planned acquisition calls for aligning the deployment and implementation of the system with DoD\u2019s ongoing rollout of its own system\u2014called MHS GENESIS\u2014in order to achieve efficiencies.

However, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) expressed her concern that DoD\u2019s director of operational test and evaluation released a report last month that found the military\u2019s Cerner EHR system\u2014installed at four initial sites in the Pacific Northwest\u2014is neither operationally effective nor operationally suitable.

Also See<\/b>: DoD rollout of Cerner EHR deemed not operationally effective or suitable<\/a>

\u201cYou signed the contract to move forward on procuring the same (Cerner) system\u201d as the military, Murray told Wilkie. \u201cWe cannot see the same problems that DoD has experienced. So, I want to know what you will do to oversee the rollout and what specific steps you\u2019re going to take to make sure quality and access to care is not diminished.\u201d

Wilkie responded that he \u201cwill not commit to putting any program online until it is properly tested.\u201d

Nonetheless, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) voiced his concern that key executive positions at VA remain unfilled, including deputy secretary, under secretary for health and chief information officer. \u201cWe have a ton of leadership vacancies that\u2019s going to impact\u201d the EHR implementation, said Tester.

\u201cI pledge to the committee that I will move as rapidly as I can\u2014if confirmed\u2014to get those people in place,\u201d Wilkie pledged.","order":0,"get_parent":{},"attributes":[],"attributesType":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"dynamicContent":""}]

Wilkie says new EHR would be top priority if he’s confirmed to head VA

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