Simpson, Boise VAMC Applaud VA Announcement to Reset Electronic Health Record Program

Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today applauded the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) announcement to halt future rollouts of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Program, a system that was deployed at various VA Medical Centers (VAMC) despite reported deficiencies that negatively impacted the quality of care received by veterans.

“This was the right call for VA to make on behalf of the millions of veterans receiving care at VA Medical Centers across the country.  I am relieved that VA has listened to the voices of veterans, hospital and provider staff, and the Idaho Congressional Delegation who have repeatedly advocated for solutions to this problem,” said Simpson. “Our veterans deserve the best care we can offer, and this announcement is an important step in making that ideal a reality.”

“The news about the VA’s decision to reset the Electronic Health Record project and halt deployment to future sites is the best decision VA can make to ensure the safety and well-being of the veterans we serve.  The health of veterans is our highest priority, and we applaud VA leadership for their willingness to prioritize EHR success at the sites where was it was deployed before deploying at other VA facilities,” said Josh Callihan, Public Affairs Officer, Boise VA Medical Center.

Background:

Since the disastrous rollout of EHR in late 2020 at the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC in Spokane, Washington, Congressman Simpson and his staff have held dozens of meetings with the Boise VAMC, Oracle Cerner, the House VA Committee, other members of Congress with impacted VAMCs, and other stakeholders to halt EHR from being deployed at other VA facilities, including in Boise.

April 27, 2022, the Idaho Congressional Delegation sent a letter to VA Secretary McDonough regarding the upcoming Cerner go-live date, and asked follow-up questions about why VA is going forward with additional rollouts despite the failures and even a “sentinel event” at Mann-Grandstaff VAMC in Spokane, Washington.

July 21, 2022, the Idaho Congressional Delegation again raised concerns about the rollout of the new EHR system at the Boise VAMC, which was postponed from the original go-live date of June 25, 2022 and the delayed go-live date of July 23, 2022.

February 16, 2023, Congressman Simpson, with Veterans Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL) introduced the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record Modernization Improvement Act, which would protect Idaho Veterans’ access to healthcare by ensuring the new EHR system is not fully implemented until certain criteria are met.

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