VA and DOD EXPAND ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFORMATION PILOT TO EASTERN VIRGINIA

March 8, 2010

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) today announced the next phase of the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) Health Communities Program.  This initiative improves care and services to our Nation’s heroes by sharing health information using the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) developed under the leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

“The Obama Administration understands the importance of electronic health data exchange to Veterans’ health and well-being,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Building upon VA’s successful pilot project with our San Diego VA Medical Center and private sector partners provides us with another opportunity to further develop this technology and share information with our DoD partners safely, securely, and efficiently.”

DoD and VA selected the Virginia/Tidewater area of Southeastern Virginia as the next area to partner with due to its high concentration of Veterans, military retirees, members of the guard and reserve, and active duty servicemembers and their dependents. 

In the Virginia/Tidewater area, VA and DoD will partner with private sector hospitals who have joined a NHIN-compliant regional health information exchange that enables organizations to exchange information regionally and nationwide. The Virginia/Tidewater pilot builds on the continuing success of the first pilot in San Diego, Calif., with Kaiser Permanente.

Servicemembers and Veterans in the Virginia/Tidewater area will be invited to participate in this health data exchange program scheduled to launch this year.  Individuals who choose to participate will authorize their public and private sector health care providers and doctors to share specific health information electronically, safely, securely and privately.   

The program, through policy and technology, places the highest priority on patient privacy and data security.  No exchange of information will occur without the appropriate permissions of the individual patients.  Access to care will not be affected by a decision not to participate. 

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