“Starting April 17, 2020, your community providers who are in VA’s network and participate in the Veterans Health Information Exchange (VHIE) will be able to securely and seamlessly access your VA electronic health information in order to care for you. Previously, you had to complete a form to authorize this electronic sharing.”
“This comes as a result of the launch of the VA MISSION Act this past June, when VA expanded Veterans’ access to non-VA health care providers through the community care program. But as VA’s network of authorized community providers grows, so does the need to make sure those providers have access to the health information they need to deliver decisions about your care.”
“As a Family Medicine physician and Army Veteran, I believe that this positive change will have tremendous benefits. Not only does this electronic sharing help you avoid carrying paper copies of your record between providers, but the secure, seamless exchange of information with the specific providers treating you can dramatically improve your safety – especially in emergency situations.”
“VA has been using health information exchange (HIE) technology since 2009 to securely share information. Those instances include prescriptions and medications, and for allergies, illnesses and laboratory results when you see providers in other health networks…” Read the full article here.
Source: New rules for electronic health information sharing deliver better care – By Dr. Jennifer MacDonald, March 18, 2020. Vantage Point.
