Changes to come to Department of Veteran Affairs record system in Kentucky
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Department of Veterans Affairs has been working to bring patient treatment into the future, and part of that includes patient records.
The VA announced that Kentucky will be switching to a new software called the EHR or the Electronic Health Records System. This new system will allow health care providers to access health records for veterans across all VA medical facilities within the Department of War, Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Dr. Paul Lawrence, deputy secretary of Veteran Affairs, says that it was time to catch up with technology.
“Our old record system got old,” Lawrence said. “Antiquated technology couldn’t be attached to it, we didn’t have all the veterans information, we struggled to get their military information when they went outside the area. It was very hard for us to get you care in another facility. New technology is just better, quite frankly.”
Some states around the Ohio River have already made such a move, such as Ohio and Indiana, and have already implemented the system with great success.
Kentucky is projected to adopt this new system by 2031, but Lawrence says that it could be much sooner.
“We implemented in Michigan in April, Ohio in June, Indiana this last week. It’s been very good and very positively received by our veterans and providers. We have plans to come to Kentucky. It’s 2031, but given what’s going on in VA in terms of reorganizing geography, it might be sooner,” Lawrence said.
This move comes as the VA is trying to connect with as many veterans as possible, especially as those veterans who joined post 9/11 are starting to reach an age where health care is becoming a bigger part of their lives.
“We want all veterans to be connected to us. As you know, the folks who jumped in and served after 9/11, they’re now in their 40s and 50s. So we think it’s even more important we reach out to them. But we invite every veteran, you know, if you’re not connected to the VA, please come connect with us and let’s figure out what benefits you’ve earned and how we get you them,” Lawrence said.
