“The objective of this audit was to determine whether VA’s infrastructure-readiness activities were on schedule to facilitate the electronic health record modernization initiative, starting with the previously scheduled deployment of the new system on March 28, 2020, at the initial operating capability site—the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Spokane, Washington. Specifically, the audit team examined the state of physical and IT infrastructure to determine VA’s readiness to proceed with system implementation and to identify infrastructure challenges that could impact the overall system deployment schedule…”
What the Audit Found
“The OIG found critical physical and IT infrastructure upgrades have not been completed, even as recently as January 8, 2020, at the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC and its associated facilities. The lack of important upgrades jeopardizes VA’s ability to properly deploy the new electronic health record system and increases risks of delays to the overall schedule. In fact, some infrastructure upgrades needed to help ensure end users do not experience diminished system performance on the deployment date are not projected to be completed until months later. For example, modifications to telecommunications rooms will not be completed until up to four months after VA’s previously scheduled deployment date of March 2020. Until modifications are complete, many aspects of the physical infrastructure existing in the telecommunications rooms (such as cabling) and data center do not meet national industry standards or VA’s internal requirements. Additionally, 31 percent of end-user devices needed for the go-live date remained to be upgraded as of October 7, 2019. Moreover, VA medical devices require authorization from DoD to connect to the new electronic health record system and this authorization had not yet been received by VA as of January 2020.”
“Infrastructure upgrades were not completed at the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC in a timely manner to properly prepare for deployment of the new health record system primarily because VA lacked
- Initial comprehensive site assessments that included physical infrastructure to determine a realistic go-live date,
- Requisite specifications for infrastructure,
- Appropriate monitoring mechanisms, and
- Adequate staffing.”
“VA committed to an aggressive, but likely unrealistic, deployment date of March 2020 without having the necessary information on the state of the medical center’s infrastructure…”
Read the full 68-page report here.
Source: Deficiencies in Infrastructure Readiness for Deploying VA’s New Electronic Health Record System – April 27, 2020. VA OIG.
