Health IT Strategic Framework
Attachment 2
VI. Summary and Recommendations
VA and DoD are the largest health care providers in the Nation. As such, they are uniquely positioned to influence health delivery from a national standpoint. In consideration of the identified joint approaches the Departments could take to make affordable health technologies available to rural and medically underserved communities, the following is recommended:
Capture lessons learned, including technical and resource identification, of data sharing initiatives. Where appropriate, conduct technology transfers to private sector and state and local levels as a means of providing affordable technologies to these areas. Continue joint standards adoption work to leverage the immense capability to influence the vendor community in the development of affordable health technologies. Continue utilization and development of telehealth technologies to be used in the direct provision of care to geographically remote areas, and areas that are underserved by health delivery services.
In addition to the joint work conducted with DoD, VA is a recognized leader in the development of health information technologies and health information systems. As such, VA is well positioned to do the following:
Continue efforts to share health information technologies that are free and available to the general health care community at no cost for the benefit of all patients. This will be accomplished through the continued development of electronic health record software and technologies, and interoperable health applications. Continue to support the development of software that remains in the public domain. These include VistA, HealtheVet-VistA, HealthePeople-VistA, the collaborative HHS/VA VistA-based tool for office-based practices and clinics, and CPRS. Continue development of health information technologies that assist in the provision of care to remote populations. These include VistA Imaging and telehealth applications. Continue active collaborations with regional and community based health organizations that transfer technologies, explore data standardization efforts, and increase effective health data sharing. Continue development and enhancement of personal health record technologies, such as My HealtheVet, which empower veterans and health care consumers to become active participants in the health delivery process. Capture and transfer important lessons-learned from extensive system implementation and migration.
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