Electronic Health Records: Interoperability Plans of the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs

Electronic health records (EHRs) play an important role in optimizing the health care provided to active duty servicemembers and veterans. When a servicemember leaves military service by way of discharge, separation, or retirement he or she may become eligible for VA benefits and services including VA health care. Transitioning their health care information from one large health care system (Department of Defense; DOD) to the other (Department of Veterans Affairs; VA) involves coordination of data and information between DOD and VA. Longstanding concern that this exchange be effective has been expressed in many quarters, including Congress. The purpose of this book is to provide a background on the long-standing efforts in sharing health information between DOD and VA. The book also describes changes to the integrated electronic health record system and evaluates the departments’ current plans; and determines whether the departments are effectively collaborating on management of the program.