Wed Sep 25 10:03:00 UTC 2024: ## VA’s New EHR System Plagued by Hundreds of Major Performance Incidents, OIG Report Finds
**Washington, D.C.** – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has experienced over 800 major performance incidents since the deployment of its new electronic health record (EHR) system, according to a report from the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG). The incidents, which include outages, performance degradations, and incomplete functionality, have significantly impacted patient care and led to delays in EHR implementation.
The OIG report points to inadequate controls in place to prevent system changes from causing major incidents, as well as insufficient measures to respond and mitigate their impact. The report highlights a specific instance where the EHR was disrupted for 27 hours at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, due to a system change that halted operations. This incident resulted in numerous patient appointment reschedulings.
While the VA updated its contract with Oracle Health, the vendor responsible for the EHR system, to strengthen requirements for addressing major incidents, the problems have persisted. The OIG urges the VA to implement additional controls to prevent further incidents and enhance their response capabilities. Failure to address these issues, the report warns, will continue to jeopardize patient safety and further delay the EHR implementation process.
The report’s findings raise serious concerns about the VA’s ability to successfully transition to its new EHR system. The OIG’s recommendation for enhanced controls and response mechanisms are crucial for ensuring the system’s reliability and the safety of veteran patients.
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