VA EHR Modernization: A Second Option Period for Continued Progress and Improvement

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the approval of a second option period for its EHR modernization (EHRM) contract with health IT vendor Oracle Health. This decision marks the continuation of the partnership between VA and Oracle Health as part of the EHRM reset initiative, which was launched last year.

The initial launch of the EHR platform at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in October 2020 was met with ongoing system performance issues. These issues have been linked to more than 150 cases of harm and the deaths of four veterans. However, the 11-month option period award reaffirms VA’s commitment to improving the federal EHR for Veterans and supporting the six VA healthcare facilities currently utilizing the system during the EHRM reset.

Tanya Bradsher, VA deputy secretary, emphasized the importance of this announcement in a press release, highlighting VA’s dedication to veterans, providers, and taxpayers in a fiscally restrained environment. Bradsher noted that the contract’s second option period will facilitate continued progress toward the reset’s objectives and future deployments of the federal EHR.

During this option period, negotiations will focus on enhancing EHR improvements and optimizations to achieve greater predictability in system hosting, deployment, and sustainment. These efforts align with VA’s reset goals to resume EHR deployments by fiscal year 2025. Hannah Nelson has been reporting on health information technology and health data interoperability news since 2020.