VistA Lead Designer Slams Hagel For iEHR Approach

A lead software designer for VistA recently called out Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel for not taking a patient-centric approach to the creation of an integrated electronic health record between DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

In an open letter posted to his personal website, health IT consultant Tom Munnecke said that despite good intentions, Hagel (pictured right) and the DoD are "paving a road to a hellish destination" by looking to outside vendors for its EHR needs.

"I was impressed with your concise and accurate assessment 'I didn't think we knew what the hell we were doing,' before a Congressional hearing April 16, 2013," Munnecke said. "I fear, however, that this is still the case."