Measuring DoD-VA records sharing proves hard

[unhappycamper]

Measuring DoD-VA records sharing proves hard
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 24, 2008 21:48:16 EST

The Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs are making “great strides” in the ability to electronically share the medical records of troops and former troops under their care who are transitioning between the health care systems of the two departments.

However, they can’t accurately quantify overall progress because, officials say, the measuring sticks for progress are a moving and evolving target.

“DoD and the VA are already making very great strides in sharing health care data — which is to say, we’re on target to meet the requirements” of the 2008 Defense Authorization Act, said Gerald Cross, VA’s principal deputy undersecretary for health, in a Pentagon news conference Monday. “DoD and VA are now sharing almost all essential health information that’s available electronically in a viewable format.”

The Defense Authorization Act requires that both departments achieve “full interoperability” of their electronic health record capabilities and systems by September 2009.

But the problem is that “full interoperability” has yet to be defined.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/military_dodva_medicalrecords_112408w/%2e



uhc comment: ". . . very great strides in sharing health care data" my ass. If you can't define something you cannot program it.