News Summary
Cleveland is set to implement a new electronic health record system for veterans by 2026, raising concerns about potential risks and management issues. The initiative aims to improve patient care, but past incidents linked to the system have caused alarm. As funding prioritizes the system over hiring healthcare professionals, local representatives urge for a fully staffed VA to ensure a successful transition. The rollout has faced delays, now projected for completion in 2031, reflecting the challenges in modernizing veteran healthcare.
Cleveland is gearing up for the roll-out of a new electronic health record system by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) targeted for October 2026. This initiative, known as the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM), is developed by Oracle Health and aims to create a comprehensive digital health record for veterans. However, concerns are rising over the potential risks associated with this new system, particularly in light of past incidents where it has been linked to veteran deaths.
Tim Hauser, a Desert Storm veteran who regularly visits multiple VA medical facilities, has voiced his apprehensions regarding the implementation of the EHRM. Hauser has monitored the EHRM project’s progress since 2018 and is worried that the direction the VA is taking could jeopardize patient care, especially during emergencies, if software failures occur. He emphasizes that funding should prioritize hiring more healthcare professionals instead of investing heavily in this new system.
During a recent press conference at the Louis Stokes Medical Center, Paul Lawrence, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, addressed these concerns. He assured the public that the new system will improve patient care by providing doctors with comprehensive information, allowing them to focus more on delivering treatment rather than completing paperwork. To ensure a smooth transition, Lawrence plans to evaluate the Louis Stokes facility quarterly leading up to the EHRM’s launch.
The EHRM aims to integrate health records by consolidating data from the Department of Defense and other federal agencies into one accurate lifetime record for veterans. The projected cost for this modernization effort varies significantly, with the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimating the total could reach $50 billion. In contrast, Lawrence estimates the cost to be around $16 billion over the next decade.
Safety Concerns and Operational Issues
Compounding the anxiety surrounding the EHRM are incidents that have been linked to veteran deaths. While the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs confirmed that issues related to the EHRM have caused harm, these were not formally recognized as direct causes of death. Since the system began its initial rollout in October 2020, there have been over 1,134 reports of patient safety events, raising alarms about its effectiveness. An audit has identified 360 significant performance incidents tied to the EHRM, which includes issues such as system outages and incomplete functionalities.
VA Press Secretary Pete Kasperowicz has indicated that over 99% of flagged patient safety issues resulted in no actual harm and are part of the ongoing efforts to refine the system. Nonetheless, Hauser remains apprehensive about the fast-tracked implementation, fearing it may lead to compromised patient care in critical situations.
Management and Implementation Timeline
The EHRM rollout has faced setbacks attributable to management issues during the previous administration, which have continued into the Biden administration. Local representatives, including U.S. Representative Shontel Brown (D-OH), have emphasized the necessity for a fully funded and adequately staffed VA to ensure successful deployment of the new system.
The completion date for the entire EHRM rollout has now been extended to 2031, a four-year delay from the initial timeline. This prolonged project timeline highlights the complexities involved in modernizing electronic health records and addressing the critical needs of veterans’ healthcare services.
As Cleveland prepares for this significant transition in veterans’ healthcare management, the focus remains on ensuring that the EHRM not only meets technological expectations but also prioritizes the safety and well-being of veterans relying on these services.
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Additional Resources
- News 5 Cleveland: VA Electronic Health Record System Linked to 3 OH Deaths
- Military Times: VA Unveils Next 13 Sites for Electronic Health Record Rollout
- Spectrum News 1: Ohio VA Medical Facilities to Get New Health Records
- Healthcare IT News: VA Names More Sites for 2026 EHR Deployments
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Electronic Health Records
Author: STAFF HERE CLEVELAND WRITER
CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
