Watchdog suggests VA halt medical records overhaul until lingering issues are resolved
February 12
Staff at the 374th Surgical Operations Squadron Same Day Surgery Unit enter information into the department's electronic medical record system following surgery on a colleague in May 2018. (Airman John D. Partlow/Air Force)
An outside watchdog is recommending that Veterans Affairs halt deployment of its new electronic medical records system until serious problems with its operations are addressed, but department officials insist the issues won’t create significant delays for the massive project.
The new records system — a 10-year, $16 billion project started in 2018 — was one of the signature achievements of President Donald Trump’s VA policies. It is designed to connect veterans medical files with Defense Department files, providing a single, lifelong record for troops past their military separation.