VA, Pentagon Spent At Least $1.3B On Canceled Joint EHR System

The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have spent at least $1.3 billion during the last four years in an unsuccessful effort to develop an interoperable electronic health record system, according to an investigation by News21, the Center for Public Integrity reports (Winston, Center for Public Integrity, 8/27).

Background

DOD and VA first launched an effort to create a joint integrated EHR, or iEHR system, in 2009. The iEHR project aimed to allow every service member to maintain a single EHR throughout his or her career and lifetime.

However, DOD and VA officials in February announced plans to halt the iEHR project and instead focus on making their current EHR systems more interoperable.