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TRICARE Management Activity

A component of the Military Health System

Interagency Program Office

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AOL Government Profiles Joint DOD-VA Health Record Program, States Program is Regaining Traction Under Re-chartered IPO

September 13, 2012

Since re-chartering the IPO nearly a year ago, the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs have made significant progress towards developing an integrated Electronic Health Record.

Much is riding on assimilating the systems because the DoD and VA operate some of the world's largest health care management systems. The DoD and VA combined serve more than 18 million patients, use 400,040 medical service providers, manage 280 million annual outpatient visits, and support 229 data centers.
 
Combining the information technology architectures will streamline the ability to track the medical records of military personnel from enlistment through Veteran status. Merging the departments’ two large complex systems has proven tremendously challenging.
The idea behind the iEHR is that it could be developed and launched in a short timeframe, explained Susan Perez, iEHR program manager, during an IPO panel presentation at last month’s Armed Forces Communications Electronic Association's 5th Annual Warfighter IT Support Day.
Often referred to as the 2+2+1 initiative, the program has until the end of 2014 to develop an initial operating capability supporting two sites and includes two major medical capabilities as well as a pharmacy capability at North Chicago.
 
In order to meet this initiative, both departments must still develop business processes, a common infrastructure, and a supporting system of tools and workflows to develop electronic systems that share data.
 
In 2013, work will shift towards developing single sign-on and context management capabilities. Additional roll-outs will take place at 16 to be determined VA and DOD facilities, setting the stage for additional contracts and deployments.
 
"We want the best products and have them work together to meet the needs of the medical community," Susan Perez said. As such, the IPO is looking to industry to provide development solutions. In the coming months, there will be many requests for information to help merge all of the systems necessary to get the architecture into place.
 
Click here to read the full AOL Government article.