Berta Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Source VA Media Press Release "Medical Journal Praises VA Electronic Health Record VA Continues to Lead Health Care Industry WASHINGTON (April 6, 2009) - A recent study in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine singles out the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for its successful implementation of a comprehensive system of electronic health records. The study's authors, led by Dr. Ashish K. Jha of Harvard University, noted that VA's use of electronic health records has significantly enhanced the quality of patient care. They also found that only 1.5 percent of U.S. hospitals have comprehensive electronic health records; adding VA hospitals to the analyses doubled that number. "VA hospitals have used electronic health records for more than a decade with dramatic associated improvements in clinical quality," the study's authors wrote. VA clinicians began using computerized patient records in the mid-1990s for everything from recording examinations by doctors to displaying results of lab tests and x-rays. Patient records are available 100 percent of the time to VA health care workers, compared to 60 percent when VA relied on paper records. Dr. Michael J. Kussman, VA's under secretary for health, said VA has "one of the most comprehensive and sophisticated electronic systems" for patient records in the nation. "VA's electronic health record system has largely eliminated errors stemming from lost or incomplete medical records, making us one of the safest systems in the health care industry," Kussman said. The authors of the NEJM article are the latest to praise VA for its technology and commitment to patient safety. In 2006, VA received the prestigious "Innovations in American Government" Award from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government for its advanced electronic health records and performance measurement system." GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University ! When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we." Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purple Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 ...yeah there is another vet (but a male) with the same last name as me (a common name) that I often receive appt phone call reminders for... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator broncovet Posted April 6, 2009 Moderator Share Posted April 6, 2009 Hmmm..if the VA has such good electronic records, why are C &P still on paper, and being shredded? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meddac Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Hmmm..if the VA has such good electronic records, why are C &P still on paper, and being shredded? For us (at my RO anyway) C&P's are still on paper, but they are also available electronically. I can re-print an exam at a moments notice. I assume it's the same for...should be, but maybe it isn't. I should also add that I can pull records from 1998 or 1999 to present from any VAMC that is keeping the records electronically. Once again, I only assume that they all are. I have Vets all the time that have records in different states, and I haven't run into a problem pulling those records...yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meddac Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Hmmm..if the VA has such good electronic records, why are C &P still on paper, and being shredded? For us (at my RO anyway) C&P's are still on paper, but they are also available electronically. I can re-print an exam at a moments notice. I assume it's the same for...should be, but maybe it isn't. I should also add that I can pull records from 1998 or 1999 to present from any VAMC that is keeping the records electronically. Once again, I only assume that they all are. I have Vets all the time that have records in different states, and I haven't run into a problem pulling those records...yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLEDGE Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 "Sorry, I think I just puked in my mouth." "I also find it interesting that one VAMC in the same state can't access any previous VAMC medical records, labs, MRI's, ex-rays on me at another VAMC while doing a neurological workup or orthopeadic workup." "WASHINGTON (April 6, 2009) - A recent study in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine singles out the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for its successful implementation of a comprehensive system of electronic health records." IMO, congress probably commissioned this bit of fiction in order to have a so-called expert opinion to fall back on when they speak politically to the voters. In these hectic financial times our elected reps are looking for any reason to keep up the funding for their pet projects. By keeping us from getting any better care they can stump for bridges that go nowhere and new buildings where nobody needs one. We are witnessing politics getting back to normal. Even when I place hand-carried VA records into the hands of VA specialist, the specialist does not believe they are mine. I walk in pain, through the pain and that does not jive with the x-rays. So I belong in a wheelchair, sue me. sledge Those that need help the most are the ones least likely to receive help from the VA. It's up to us to help each other. sledge twkelly@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purple Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I sent an e-mail to one of the authors of this study, Dr. Jha, if he responds, I'll post it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
Berta
Source VA Media Press Release
"Medical Journal Praises VA Electronic Health Record
VA Continues to Lead Health Care Industry
WASHINGTON (April 6, 2009) - A recent study in the prestigious New
England Journal of Medicine singles out the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) for its successful implementation of a comprehensive system
of electronic health records.
The study's authors, led by Dr. Ashish K. Jha of Harvard University,
noted that VA's use of electronic health records has significantly
enhanced the quality of patient care. They also found that only 1.5
percent of U.S. hospitals have comprehensive electronic health records;
adding VA hospitals to the analyses doubled that number.
"VA hospitals have used electronic health records for more than a decade
with dramatic associated improvements in clinical quality," the study's
authors wrote.
VA clinicians began using computerized patient records in the mid-1990s
for everything from recording examinations by doctors to displaying
results of lab tests and x-rays. Patient records are available 100
percent of the time to VA health care workers, compared to 60 percent
when VA relied on paper records.
Dr. Michael J. Kussman, VA's under secretary for health, said VA has
"one of the most comprehensive and sophisticated electronic systems" for
patient records in the nation.
"VA's electronic health record system has largely eliminated errors
stemming from lost or incomplete medical records, making us one of the
safest systems in the health care industry," Kussman said.
The authors of the NEJM article are the latest to praise VA for its
technology and commitment to patient safety. In 2006, VA received the
prestigious "Innovations in American Government" Award from Harvard's
Kennedy School of Government for its advanced electronic health records
and performance measurement system."
GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !
When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief
Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was
simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."
Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.
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