Secretary McDonald has initiated “12 breakthrough priorities” as the near term focus for modernizing VA. Try this on for size. By the end of this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs plans to transform the Office of Information and Technology and implement a “holistic Veteran data management strategy.” In business terms, that tech speak translates into “seamless care.”

It means that any Veteran can simply walk into any of our facilities and get care. Soon thereafter, personnel at the facility can immediately call up patients’ data on the screen, regardless of geography or the kind of facility. “Our goal is to make sure…that our systems recognize you as a veteran. You should be able to get care wherever you walk in to get care,” said Dr. David Shulkin, VA’s undersecretary for health. This Electronic Health Management Platform will integrate all records from all providers across the entire VA network.

Health care executives can probably appreciate the enormity of this task. Matching Electronic Health Records (EHRs) with the right patient is still a challenge for the private sector. According to a recent article in Modern Healthcare, error rates can be as high as 50 percent. And remember, most hospital systems are a fraction of the size of VA’s 152 medical centers, the largest integrated health care system in the United States.

Consequently, VA gives you the opportunity to manage health care on the leading edge, where vast amounts of changing information empower your direct providers to make good decisions. Isn’t that why you got into health care management in the first place?

There are a lot of opportunities available at VA – and not just in the health care field. This is a significant IT challenge, and VA has additional information technology goals to tackle as well. Regardless of your profession, take an opportunity to research your job options and Join VA.

Read this blog as Secretary McDonald discusses his transformation plan, MyVA.

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10 Comments

  1. dwight k March 11, 2016 at 22:52

    I have ben going to j.c.m.c. for 14 years the medical ptsd nurse practioners took over and don,t even know practical application just what the book says,need t too watch HOME OF THE BRAVE MOUNTAIN HOME<TN ANY ADVICE ////

  2. DannyG March 9, 2016 at 10:32

    NOW I’M TICKED OFF! After supporting the VA, & VA Police, I have been trying to get cys of the executed paperwork from when I jumped thru their hoops, spent money taking her to the vet for their health certification, etc, & NOW, they don’t have the paperwork!
    I need a copy of the EXECUTED paperwork, & they trashed it! Why make a veteran jump thru hoops, spend money, follow “special” (non-ADA) rules, & TRASH IT? I can’t even get the VA Police at Mather AFB to show me the respect enough to call me back!

  3. Dennis M. Chinnock March 4, 2016 at 20:30

    It would be nice if the VA allowed service dogs to accompany service connected veterans into non-sterile clinics for treatment. Even blind veterans, for which the VA provides the service dog, are barred from bringing their dogs into some non-sterile clinics. Some doctors and dentists seem to think dog dander poses a greater risk than human dandruff in a non-sterile facility. If the VA does not want to allow this, then I hope the VA will put veterans with service dogs under the CHOICE CARD with no mileage restriction. Allow service connected veterans that need the service dog to navigate life the opportunity to use local private sector medical/dental care when the VA facility does not want to so allow.

    • DannyG March 8, 2016 at 11:46

      The VA does allow Service Dogs into all facilities, as req’d by the ADA. My SD accompanies me to everry appt. Be sure to have your pcp make a note in your records, & chheck with the VA Police; I had to register Gypsy Girl at the facility on Mather AFB,Ca. Good Luck!

  4. D. Love March 4, 2016 at 14:23

    You need to talk to your Congressional representatives about the co-pays. Federal law mandates that VA can’t bill Medicare or Tricare.

  5. Ronald E. gay March 4, 2016 at 14:07

    My opinion is there is only one way to “Turn the VA into one of Americas advance Medical Systems” … is too fire every employee, disband the government Union. Most important is you set up a system that a medical student can apply for a government loan to pay for their medical school. The way the student pays back the loam is by working it off as a VA doctor for x-amount of years. The VA also should hire retired doctors to also work part time. I would STOP bring in Foreign doctors that don’t care about the American Military. This is only a couple of my ideas. Bring in older Vets to mentor younger Vets. I also think that every Combat Vet as soon as he or she come back they should have to spend 4 to 6 weeks in an hospital type environment so as to decompress. This is were older Vets and psychologist come into the factor.

    I have more ways to improve the VA… If anyone in the VA cares to listen contact me.

    • Jersey Jeanne Goldy-Sanitate, MS-OD March 4, 2016 at 18:22

      I am with you and have made these same suggestions to the VHA bean counters, at one time I worked in the VHA system. There was a lot of good starting to happen until the VISN system was implemented. All that did was add more admin jobs..a real waste. I do see many things changing again and if Sloan Gibson and Bob McDonald don’t get canned I feel confident that change will come. Everyone says it will be slow but those people are the ones who drag down the VHA system. Getting rid of the Union and being able to prune (FIRE) the dead weight would be a wonderful step to get the chnage to move faster.
      I have suggested the medical student idea and they did something like that prior to 2000 but it was mostly with PT, Ot and RT personnel. I suggested using older veterand to mentor the OEF, OIF veterans especially women veterans mentoring other women veterans.. I got the Yeah Yeah Yeah answer. Maybe someday they will listen nd utilize the FREE respources at their fingertips. It is better to ask several veteran what the problems are at no cost than to hire a six figure bean counter who has no clue and doesn’t see the Forest for the Trees..

  6. Martn Edward. Wuenscher March 4, 2016 at 12:14

    It’s to long to get an appointment. If I need to go to a Hospital I call my civilian Primary care and he sends me to a Hospital right away. No delays because he calls the Hospital and gives them a heads up or if i’m in his office he gives the me a form which i take with me. Because of the VA is taking so long to get an appointment . It cost me everytime I go to the VA primary care doctor. I pay nothing when I go to my civilian primary care Doctor. Medicare and my insurance pays for everything. I gave my insurance info to the VA, Why don’t they submit the bills to the to medicare and my insurance. I get a refund from the VA that does not cover the total $15 copay to VA. I don’t understand why this happens.????

    • Dennis M. Chinnock March 4, 2016 at 20:34

      Why do you even go to the VA facility if it is quicker and cheaper to go to your private sector facility? You are unhappy and merely add to the work load at the VA facility.

  7. DannyG March 2, 2016 at 19:46

    I like the sound of this. Nothin worse than being on R&R, needing a Dr., & Nobody at the VA knows anything abt you.
    Be careful, Mr. Secretary, You may force me to “eat crow” over some of my comments! I will gladly do so, if it furthers our common goal of improving the lives of America’s Veterans!

Comments are closed.

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