The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have made progress in sharing patients' electronic health records but still lack a clear plan for meeting a September deadline for fully interoperable EHR systems, according to a new Government Accountability Office report, Government Computer News reports.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 gives the departments until Sept. 30, 2009, to develop a computer-based patient record system that complies with federal standards to exchange data.
In the past six months, VA and DOD have increased the number of patients whose outpatient pharmacy and drug allergy information is being shared. An additional 2,700 patients' information is now being shared, bringing the total to 21,000.
However, the report notes that the figure remains a small percentage of the total patient population.
The departments also have created a set of interoperability standards, called the Target DOD/VA Standards Profile. Those standards are being updated with standards the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is developing.
However, VA and DOD have not yet established a joint office to oversee the EHR interoperability project. The office was scheduled to launch in December 2008, but while a charter and organizational plan have been developed, key positions have not been filled.
In addition, the lack of clearly defined goals and milestones limits the departments' ability to measure their progress and guarantee success, according to the report (Jackson, Government Computer News, 1/28).
In response to the report, both departments agreed to make it a priority to implement GAO's recommendations.
The GAO report, titled "Electronic Health Records: DOD's and VA's Sharing of Information Could Benefit From Improved Management," is available online (.pdf).