“Despite recent scrutiny over program missteps and complaints from frontline staff, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Electronic Health Records Modernization (EHRM) program plans to deploy the EHRM program at a second location in Columbus, Ohio, in February 2022, VA Deputy Secretary Donald Remy told lawmakers today.”
“Over a year ago, the VA launched the first EHRM deployment at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Wash., but paused deployment at other planned sites to conduct a strategic review of the program and address the problems that arose in Spokane.”
“These problems, exposed by VA Office of the Inspector General reports, included underreported costs, “significant deficiencies” in training for the new EHR program, and concerns from employees regarding the EHRM program and the Cerner Millennium system it runs on.”
Problems Continue in Spokane
“Members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization expressed their concerns during today’s hearing over the existing problems in Spokane, which were recently reported in a new survey conducted of Mann-Grandstaff personnel from VA’s National Center for Organizational Development.”
“’The results of this report are extremely concerning,’ Chairman Frank Mrvan, D-Ind., said of the new survey. ‘They show that people at Spokane VA and its associated clinics are demoralized and unhappy. The vast majority of respondents express that their morale and job satisfaction have worsened because of the Cerner implementation.'”
“Specifically, the survey found that 83 percent Mann-Grandstaff employees said that as a result of the Cerner medical record implementation, their morale has worsened, and 80 percent said their level of burnout has worsened. What’s more, is 62 percent of the employees said the EHRM has made them question if they want to continue working at Mann-Grandstaff.”
“Despite these new numbers, Remy said VA’s goal is to deploy the EHRM program at another location in Columbus, Ohio, in February 2022…” Read the full article here.
Source: VA to Deploy EHRM at Another Location in February, Despite Continued Program Concerns – By Grace Dille, November 2, 2021. MeriTalk.
