Advanced information technology in the patient care setting serves to reduce medical errors, improve diagnoses, and create other efficiencies that keep our interdisciplinary care teams focused on patients rather than on menial tasks. As a VA employee, you'll have the opportunity to work with technologies that experts say are the best in the Nation.
Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) – Using desktops and wireless laptops that can access CPRS anywhere in the patient care setting, our care teams have instant, secure access to each veteran's complete health record, including patient history, lab results, medications, x-rays, and other diagnostic imaging. They can also place a variety of orders for tests, prescriptions, etc., and the system will red flag any bad requests, like a drug that would interact harmfully with other current medications.
CPRS is networked across all VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, and domiciliaries – 1,300 sites of care throughout VA – so patients' records are available no matter which VA facility they visit throughout the U.S. This was extremely important to veterans displaced by Hurricane Katrina, for example, who experienced no disruption in their care. In recognition of this system's impact on health care throughout VA, Harvard University's Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation recently awarded its prestigious "Innovations in American Government Award" to VA.
Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) system – VA's most rapidly adopted technology, the BCMA system was suggested by a VA nurse as an automated way to reduce medication dispensing errors. When a prescription is filled in any VA facility's pharmacy department, the BCMA system generates a bar code that is placed on either the bottle or intravenous bag. The bar code registers the type of medicine, who it is for, when it should be administered, in what dose, and by whom. All VA patients and nurses wear an ID bracelet with a bar code, and both bracelets must be scanned prior to administering any drug. If the nurse has the wrong patient or wrong medicine, the computer says so. Thanks to BCMA, VA has now virtually eliminated dispensing errors.
Telemedicine – Our telemedicine initiatives help ensure the continuity of veterans' care from a distance. VA physicians and other providers use electronic communication technologies to consult remotely with veterans and other VA physicians. These technologies include structured messaging, video teleconferencing, and remote physiologic monitoring devices. VA facilities are also equipped for telemedical conferences for oncology, dermatology, mental health, and surgical consultations.
My HealtheVet Web site – This site allows veterans and their families to interact electronically with VA and keep track of their health. Enrolled veterans can access their complete health history or graph recent health readings (e.g., blood pressure) from their home computers, or they can give permission for others to do so. They can also order prescription refills and view their prescription history. As this site evolves, so will its effectiveness in improving veterans' health through a virtual partnership between veterans and their VA care teams.
Professional development technology – VA also has invested in an information technology infrastructure that fosters professional development. Computer-based networking (mail groups), regular teleconferences, and online training enable VA professionals across the country to share information, research, and best practices.
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