VA issues RFP for open-source EHR effort
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a draft request for proposal (RFP) aimed at forming an open-source community around its VistA (Veterans Integrated System Technology Architecture) EHR system.
When the award is made under a planned RFP for a custodial agent, the VA will commit to deploy the open-source version of VistA to all of its facilities, and will contribute all non-security essential modifications to the product it makes or pays directly to the open source custodian, the VA stated.
“VistA is an important asset for VA, and for the nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki in a statement. “As we work to ensure that we provide veterans with the best in healthcare, modernization of VistA is absolutely critical.”
The open source effort is part of the VA’s strategy to ensure that VA clinicians have the best tools possible and that veterans receive the best healthcare possible, the department stated.
The VA expects to begin converting VistA to an open source architecture by this summer. A key step in this process will be the selection of a custodial agent to perform all aspects of operating the open-source community, the agency stated.
VistA is currently in use in 153 VA hospitals and more than 800 community-based outpatient clinics across the U.S., according to the VA. It forms the basis of the Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS), the EHR system used by the Indian Health System, and is the basis of installations in more than 50 hospitals globally.
When the award is made under a planned RFP for a custodial agent, the VA will commit to deploy the open-source version of VistA to all of its facilities, and will contribute all non-security essential modifications to the product it makes or pays directly to the open source custodian, the VA stated.
“VistA is an important asset for VA, and for the nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki in a statement. “As we work to ensure that we provide veterans with the best in healthcare, modernization of VistA is absolutely critical.”
The open source effort is part of the VA’s strategy to ensure that VA clinicians have the best tools possible and that veterans receive the best healthcare possible, the department stated.
The VA expects to begin converting VistA to an open source architecture by this summer. A key step in this process will be the selection of a custodial agent to perform all aspects of operating the open-source community, the agency stated.
VistA is currently in use in 153 VA hospitals and more than 800 community-based outpatient clinics across the U.S., according to the VA. It forms the basis of the Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS), the EHR system used by the Indian Health System, and is the basis of installations in more than 50 hospitals globally.