This paper examines the role of electronic medical records (EMR) and electronic health records (EHR) within the Veterans Health Administration, the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States. It discusses how the VHA has implemented these technologies, including the My HealtheVet personal health record portal, to enhance veteran access to their medical information and improve patient engagement. The analysis covers the infrastructure supporting these systems—particularly VistA—and the security measures ensuring HIPAA compliance and patient privacy. The paper argues that by making health records accessible and allowing veterans to participate actively in their care, the VHA sets a model other healthcare facilities should emulate to increase patient satisfaction and outcomes.
Electronic medical records and electronic health records have become a staple in the healthcare industry, particularly in the Veterans Health Administration. The Veterans Health Administration serves veterans of the military and their healthcare needs. Hospitals and clinics located in all fifty states make the VA healthcare system the single largest healthcare entity in the nation. Since the VA healthcare system is the largest healthcare system in the United States, encompassing more than 1,400 healthcare sites including hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation programs, Vet Centers, and home health programs, it is essential that all patient records be electronic in the event that a veteran travels and needs to be seen at another facility that is not their regular clinic or hospital (Schneider, 2010, p. 15). Included in the veteran's EHR and EMR are all the records pertaining to every visit since enrolling in the VHA, their medication records, lab reports, radiology reports, surgery records, and specialist records.
The VHA and the Department of Defense have a long and successful history of using technology, particularly information technology, to meet their goals. Within each medical center, whether it is on a military post or at a veteran's hospital or clinic, every system is computerized—from EMR and EHR to VistA (Veteran's Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture). When it comes to revolutionizing medical data, the VHA is on the forefront, implementing new ways to make the data more accessible to the veteran (Brown et al., 2003, p. 136).
One such way that the VHA has made the patient's health record more accessible to the veteran is through the implementation of My HealtheVet. This portal is voluntary for veterans wishing to participate, with the main goal of providing the veteran with their own Personal Health Record (PHR) and consumer tools such as wellness resources and the ability to research health conditions. It also gives the veteran the ability to enter their own vital signs, their own health histories, refill prescriptions, access lab reports, view upcoming appointments, as well as enter food journals (Schneider, 2010, p. 19–21).
The benefit of making the patient's health records accessible to the patient through the My HealtheVet portal is that it gives the patient more control over their treatment and allows them to see their reports and lab results themselves. If the patient is made a part of their healthcare treatment, patient satisfaction increases. Additionally, there are substantial benefits to having EMR within the VHA. Since the Veterans Health Administration is the largest healthcare system in the United States, it is logical to adopt the EMR system. Not only does this make things simpler for the veteran, but also for the healthcare providers. It gives the healthcare providers the ability to treat the patient in the event that the veteran is being treated outside of their normal hospital or clinic.
"Technical architecture and HIPAA compliance"
Developing the platforms of the VHA's My HealtheVet portals and their EMR and EHR systems required significant thought and considerable time and energy to ensure that the systems could not be compromised and the veteran's personal information would not be leaked. Their security systems must be top of the line, and protecting patient privacy while not compromising HIPAA regulations is something that the VHA takes pride in ensuring. The organization maintains rigorous standards to ensure that nothing compromises the patient's confidential health information.
The Veterans Health Administration goes to great lengths to put the veteran first and ensure that they are satisfied with the level of care that they receive. By transitioning to EMR, EHR, and PHR, the VHA is on the forefront of technology. By allowing the veteran to have access to their PHR on the My HealtheVet portal, it allows the veteran to see exactly what the physician is reading when they are viewing their lab results and radiology reports. Other healthcare facilities should take cue from the VHA in that patients may be more satisfied with their level of care if their physicians would implement a system such as My HealtheVet for all patients.
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