VHA Providing EHR Training for Health Professional across the U.S.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) currently operates more than 1,500 sites of care, including 152 hospitals, 965 outpatient clinics, and over 130 VA nursing homes. Last year, over 116,000 health professional trainees received some or all of their clinical training in these VA healthcare facilities. The VA has academic  affiliation agreements with more than 1,800 colleges, universities, and medical schools across the U.S.   All of the physicians and healthcare professionals that pass through the VA receive training in the use of the VistA electronic health record (EHR) system.

As one of four statutory missions, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) oversees and conducts the largest health professional education and training program in the country. The goal of these programs for students and residents in the health professions is to enhance the quality of care provided to veteran patients within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) healthcare system. These education and training efforts are accomplished through coordinated programs and activities in partnership with affiliated academic institutions across the U.S.  For more detail, make sure you visit the VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) home page.

Federal law (Title 38 U.S.C.) mandates that VA assist in the training of health professionals for its own needs and those of the nation. For almost sixty years, in accordance with VA's 1946 Policy Memorandum No. 2, the VA has worked in partnership with this country's medical and associated health professions schools to provide high quality health care to America's veterans and to train new health professionals to meet the patient care needs within VA and the nation. This partnership has grown into the most comprehensive academic health system partnership in history.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) conducts education and training programs to enhance the quality of care provided to Veterans within the VA health care system. Building on the long-standing, close relationships among VA and the nation’s academic institutions, VA plays a leadership role in defining the education of future health care professionals that helps meet the changing needs of the U.S. health care delivery system. Title 38 U.S.C. mandates that VA assist in the training of health professionals for its own needs and those of the Nation. Through its partnerships with affiliated academic institutions, VA conducts the largest education and training effort for health professionals in the country.

Currently, the VHA operates more than 1,500 sites of care, including 152 hospitals, 965 outpatient clinics, and over 130 VA nursing homes. Last year, over 116,000 health professional trainees received some or all of their clinical training in these VA healthcare facilities. VHA has academic affiliation agreements with 114 of 136 accredited allopathic Medical Schools and 15 of 26 osteopathic medical schools for physician education.

The VA also has affiliation agreements related to 40 other health professions with more than 1,800 colleges and universities across the U.S. Many trainees already have health profession degrees and contribute substantially to VA’s day-to-day ability to deliver cost-effective and high-quality patient care during their advanced clinical training at VA.

VA collaborates closely with academic and professional communities to educate the next generation of health care professions and to identify and develop new specialized areas of clinical training. VA is a highly recognized and valuable national resource in the health care community at large and is valued as a preferred training site for future health professionals. For more information on the many clinical resources made available to trainees, go to http://www.va.gov/OAA/resources_trainees.asp

All of the physicians and healthcare professionals at the VA receive training in the use of the 'open source' VistA electronic health record (EHR) system. Aside from on-the-job training in the use of VistA, the VA eHealth University (VeHU) is one of the key resources that has been developed for use by healthcare professions. VeHU resources include: the virtual MyVeHU Campus, Live Training Broadcasts, Collaborative Wiki Tools, OIA Live & Learn Sessions, Social Media for Learning, and a growing range of other education and training other. To learn more about these online VeHU resources, go to  http://www.vehu.va.gov