Va Gets Nice Compliment

[Berta]

Recent VA News Releases

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http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Harvard Honors VA's Computerized Patient Records System

One of "Top 50 Government Innovations"

WASHINGTON (April 11, 2006)- Citing the Department of Veterans Affairs'

(VA's) leadership role in transforming health care in America, Harvard

University has recognized VA's computerized patient records as one of

the "top 50 government innovations of 2006."

"VA is again recognized as a leader in the health care industry for the

use of electronic patient records," said the Honorable R. James

Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. "This affirms that VA is

providing America's veterans with world-class medical care and raising

the bar for all health care providers."

VA's selection as a "top 50" innovator qualifies it as a contender for

Harvard's prestigious Innovations in Government Award, which is

considered the "Oscars" of government service. Eighteen finalists for

the award will be announced May 4, as part of the observances of Public

Service Recognition Week. The seven recipients of the award will be

announced July 10.

VA has computerized patient records for each veteran who uses its health

care system. The records allow the Department to provide better, safer,

more consistent care. It permits health care professionals at each of

the 1,400 locations where VA provides care to see the complete health

records of any patient.

"Computerized patient records have changed the way health care is

practiced in VA," said Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, VA's Under Secretary for

Health. "Just ten years ago, only 60 percent of the paper charts for

our patients were immediately available. Today, virtually 100 percent

are available at all our facilities-at all times."

"Our electronic health records have been an important element in making

VA health care the benchmark for 294 measures of disease prevention and

treatment in the United States," Perlin added.

The value of VA's patient records was demonstrated when, within 100

hours of Hurricane Katrina's making landfall last summer, every patient

medical record from the devastated areas was available to every VA

health care provider throughout the nation.

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[Guest fla_viking]

Dear Fellow Veteran & Friends.

I wonder what harvard opnion would be if they saw the worik the RO does when it has acess to those records?

No one is addressing the probolem of vets being affraid to speak to there Dr's because nomatter what they say. The RO seems to misrepresent, and misinterpit what is being written in the record. This has a huge psychlogical mind game effect across the VA as a whole.

Terry Higgins

[Testvet]

now if they could only find a way to computerize the mess in the VARO's across the country, it is nice that you get the right meds etc, now, but the claims process is still a version of the "Titanic" can all the vets who have cases on appeal and those that have been denied or placed on "permanent hold" ever get the government to open the "salt mine" files or the ones they have locked in the basement. The Edgewood veterans are a prime example of what is wrong with the claims system, DOD knows where we are and who we are, VA says you can't prove it, if you do find some records they accuse you of forging them, or they tell you they have to send for "true copies" from somwhere else. Your copy is not enough proof, how do we know that picture is really YOU? How do we know that you didn't get someone else's file and put your name on it? My favorite one was all soldiers think they were used in "secret " tests, BS I know I wasn't used in any "secret' tests I was used in a known "classified project" that became public in 1975. The DOD and the VA have just spent the past 31 years distorting the truth and out right lying about the problems from the illegal tests. I hope Harvard or whoever it is, considers that part of it, before they give the VA an atta boy, for spending tax dollars on half a system. Can we say Bay Pines?

Edited April 12, 2006 by Testvet

[mssoup1]

This may be true for the most part as health records being computerized, but not all doctors are using it. As an example. We got a copy of an eye exam that my husband had and the record he received stated that his, the eye examiners, handwritten notes in the file needed to be looked at. Doesn't sound total computerized to me.

mssoup1

[Guest allanopie]

Medical records being available? What a joke.

Since this new system has been up & running I've had a couple experiences that say different.

When they simply look at the computer, than look back & say, "your" records ain't available, "I" can't help you, what than? I had them pull that on me after I complained about the ER refusing to provide needed medication.

After a decade of the VA health care system playing yo yo with my medical records & repeatedly using the excuse to provide health care by saying, "sorry, your records aren't available", I started chewing out every "advanced notice appointment" provider they stuck me with, for not knowing what my health issues are "they" proscribe the medication for.

I was repeatedly sent back & forth between VAMC's, who were supposedly trying to provide a diagnoses for a "neuromuscular disorder of unknown cause" for over 10 years. I was repeatedly told my health didn't warrant seeing an MD. the records at at the facility that specialized in neurological care, were seldom available.

How are these, high dollar "specialist", supposed to provide a health evaluation with diagnoses, without viewing any prior treatment or diagnostic records?

Maybe thats how my TSH level reached 550.0 before anyone noticed, including the neurology dept. It took almost 2 yrs to get the level stabilized once they started treating me, so I don't think it got that high over night. Yet it took the VA 3 yrs of looking for a cause of a "neuromuscular disorder", (one of their C&P examiners diagnosed for a VA pension), all the while telling me, "your health doesn't warrant seeing an MD", to discover a 550.0 TSH level.

Once they discovered something to pin it on, than all my health issues were blamed on hypothyroidism. Years passed being shuffled through the, "no health care system" of a specialty VAMC & seeing students, while I deteriorate & loose an inch in my right leg due to atrophy.

After throwing a fit, I finely get an appointment for a thorough evaluation & diagnoses from a neurologist at the MS clinic. There was a 3 or 4 month advanced notice & this jerk didn't bother viewing, "any" previous, treatment or diagnostic records before providing a diagnoses. According to "MY MEDICAL RECORDS", The Dr claimed the records were not available.

This was last year folks, so I wouldn't put allot of stock in the duck butter the VA puts out. The VA still refuses to recognize diagnoses from Dr's outside of the VA health care system. Why do you think that is? It couldn't be that your records actually get viewed, "outside" of the VA system, could it?

Allan