Stakeholder participation needed in VA’s EHR reform

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report to call for  ongoing stakeholder involvement in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) efforts to modernise its system. The VA chose Cerner to reform its electronic health records (EHR) system, which has been costly and not interoperable with VA partner organisations such as the Department of Defense (DoD). The GAO reviewed the VA’s EHR system configuration process to assess the VA’s decision-making process and the compatibility of Cerner’s system with the VA’s work processes. While the GAO found that the decision-making procedures were effective and adhered to applicable federal standards, the organisation noted that the VA did not always ensure key stakeholder involvement.