Lisa Mascolo, managing director of U.S. public service at IBM’s global business services segment, has said the Department of Veterans Affairs’ decision to collaborate with the Defense Department to update the electronic health records system could help VA change the way it delivers health services to military retirees and their families.
VA Secretary David Shulkin announced earlier this month that the department will stop using its Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture system to implement an EHR platform that DoD uses.
Mascolo wrote in an FCW commentary piece published Tuesday that such a move could help VA develop future strategies to update its information technology systems.
“The decision also highlights the increasing significance of scalable platforms in delivering emerging technology and capabilities,†added Mascolo, an inductee into Executive Mosaic’s Wash100 for 2017.
“VA’s actions point to the potential for health IT and health data analytics to deliver the benefits of standardization, actionable insights and emerging cognitive capabilities to improve health outcomes,†she noted.
Mascolo said VA’s decision provides an opportunity to build a national model designed to facilitate health information sharing and adoption.
She also urged the department to promote use of EHR systems among clinicians.
