VA Treatment Centers Lack Access to Troop Medical Records
DoD Has Tool to Transfer Critical Patient Information:
Does Not Use It
Washington, D.C.
– “In the first 100 days of this Congress, some serious
issues have been brought to light regarding the transition
of service members from the Department of Defense to the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
“The House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations has examined systematic difficulties in the
sharing of electronic patient health information, failure to
implement effective patient tracking programs, and a lack of
urgency to address and correct these shortcomings.
“Make no mistake, these problems are not new. The problems
of bureaucratic obstacles and complicated transitions have
not been addressed by the Administration, the past Congress
or the Department of Defense. Our troops do not deserve a
confusing and lengthy transition process during their
recovery from injury. As Chairman of the House Veterans’
Affairs Committee, I will hold oversight hearings to ensure
accountability and to institute an effective continuum of
care that our veterans need and deserve.
“The House took a first step towards providing a seamless
transition between active duty and veterans’ status with the
passage of H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warriors Assistance Act.
This bill requires the implementation of a single system for
electronic health records, and streamlines the physical exam
process by requiring only one exam for both exit from active
duty and entrance to the VA system. The burden to collect
and transfer medical information should not rest on the
shoulders of a wounded soldier. The implementation of a
joint patient tracking application, or another effective
tracking system, is an absolute necessity to establish a
complete medical record for use by the Department of Defense
and the VA. It is high time these departments work together
to ensure timely medical care for our service members.
“The majority of returning service members will enter the VA
system for their medical care and we cannot delay in
providing systems that are compatible, synchronized and
uncomplicated. The time is long overdue for our President,
the Congress, DoD and the VA to work together to support the
warrior. Supporting our troops is a cost of war and a
promise we have made to our warriors.”
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