1 Delivering Federal Health EHR Interoperability Mr. Greg Donham Interagency Program Specialist VHA Office of Health Information Joint Interoperability Ventures Mr. Greg Donham Interagency Program Specialist VHA Office of Health Information Joint Interoperability Ventures November 3, 2009 Presentation to American Osteopathic Association of Medical Informatics 6 th Annual CME Program New Orleans, LA

2 Who/What I Am… Veterans Health Administration(VHA) Interagency Program Specialist Involved VA Informaticist Part of the VHA Office of Health Information, Enterprise Service Management Office (ESM) –Joint Interoperability Ventures Portfolio (JIV) Douglas Rosendale, DO, Director Involved in VA/DoD Sharing for more than 11 years

3 VA and the Electronic Health Record (EHR) VA’s Expertise –More than 20 years experience with EHRs –A major contributor to the national effort led by Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) VA’s EHR System, VistA –“World class,” award-winning –Built by Clinicians for Clinicians -- key to successful development and adoption –Improves patient safety and reduces costs VA and DoD sharing of electronic medical information –Including pharmacy information, surgical reports, laboratory results, radiology results, allergies, vital signs, progress notes, and discharge summaries –On separated service members and shared patients who come to both Agencies for care and benefits

4 Who are we talking about? “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan” Second Inaugural Address For Federal Interoperability this includes: –All our Serving Forces – Active, Reserves and National Guard –All our Nation’s Veterans –All the Departments’ eligible beneficiaries

5 About Interoperable EHRs No “One Single Best Answer/Solution” It’s about moving forward: leadership, architecture, and employing smart/agile business process and innovation to allow best EHRs to interoperate –Many great EHRs ALREADY exist, and the medical institutions using them CANNOT walk away from them…therefore, WE MUST BRING THEM TOGETHER Must be Patient-Centric…after all, this IS about the BEST PATIENTS in the world!

6 National/Federal Health Facilities

7 EHR Health IT Services/Capabilities

8 Great Projects That Must Go Forward Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN)- CONNECT Medical & Public Health Information Sharing (MPHIS) collaboration Quality Health Network approach Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) –Leveraging VA/DoD participation in pilots July- December 2008 Leveraging on-going development at North Chicago for: Joint Registration, Single Sign- On, Orders Portability between AHLTA/CHCS and VistA/CPRS

9 Conclusion/Summary We CAN do this! Bring EHRs TOGETHER for the best benefits for all US/National/Federal patients Smart/Agile interagency architecture, business processes, and development make it possible “It’s ALL ABOUT what’s best for OUR PATIENTS!”

10 VHA OHI ESM—TEAM JIV Federal Health IT Interoperability Questions/Comments