Kaiser Permanente, VA launch veterans health exchange
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente recently launched a pilot medical data exchange program in San Diego enabling clinicians from VA and Kaiser Permanente to obtain views of a patient's health using EHR information through the National Health Information Network.
The pilot program connects Kaiser's HealthConnect and the VA’s EHR system, VistA. In November 2009, VA beneficiaries and Kaiser members in the San Diego area were invited to sign up for the pilot, with the understanding that their information would not be shared without their consent.
According to Kaiser, since more than half of U.S. veterans and active duty service members receive some portion of their healthcare outside of VA or the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) facilities, interoperability between federal agencies and the private sector is essential to provide care for veterans, service members and their dependents.
Clinicians from the participating organizations can electronically and securely share authorized patient data, ensuring access to health information, according to the Oakland, Calif.-based payor.
The program's next phase will add authorized data from the DoD's healthcare system to this exchange in early 2010, with the ultimate objective making it available to all veterans and service members, according to the VA.
The pilot program connects Kaiser's HealthConnect and the VA’s EHR system, VistA. In November 2009, VA beneficiaries and Kaiser members in the San Diego area were invited to sign up for the pilot, with the understanding that their information would not be shared without their consent.
According to Kaiser, since more than half of U.S. veterans and active duty service members receive some portion of their healthcare outside of VA or the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) facilities, interoperability between federal agencies and the private sector is essential to provide care for veterans, service members and their dependents.
Clinicians from the participating organizations can electronically and securely share authorized patient data, ensuring access to health information, according to the Oakland, Calif.-based payor.
The program's next phase will add authorized data from the DoD's healthcare system to this exchange in early 2010, with the ultimate objective making it available to all veterans and service members, according to the VA.