VA Official: Updates on Paused Oracle Cerner EHRM Program Coming Soon
VA has been working with Oracle Cerner to "assess and address" deficiencies with its EHRM program, including system configuration issues.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to release updates regarding its Oracle Cerner Electronic Health Records Modernization (EHRM) program in the coming weeks, according to reporting from MeriTalk.
In October 2022, VA postponed further go-lives of its EHR until June 2023 after watchdog reports raised patient safety concerns related to the system. The purpose of the pause was to "assess and address" EHR issues and shortcomings of the EHRM program.
"We're looking specifically at the system configuration issues, but also people and process matters that led to our need to disclose to tens of thousands of veterans that their care may have been delayed or affected by the implementation of this system," Shereef Elnahal, MD, MBA, VA undersecretary for health, said during a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing on February 28.
"In the coming weeks, we're going to be releasing the results of that work, to include not only Oracle Cerner's responsibility to fix the configuration of the system, but also our own, and making sure our people and process matters continue to improve," he added. "We're very dedicated to that."
Just last month, VA further delayed the EHR rollout at an Ann Arbor facility due to concerns about how the health IT would work with the hospital's medical research system.
At the time of the announcement, Elnahal told FedScoop that other VA hospitals could also experience EHR integration issues with their research programs.
"There are many VA medical centers that are heavy with clinical research because of their academic affiliations," Elnahal said. "Those centers will need this research functionality. It's not just an issue with the Ann Arbor Hospital."
However, VA plans to continue to work with Oracle Cerner to resolve system performance issues.
During the hearing, Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., noted that EHRM leadership has changed frequently throughout the program’s history.
The departure of Terry Adirim, former program executive director of the EHRM Integration Office, on February 25 marks the program's fourth director in five years.