The Defense Department will acquire commercial technology for its system to transfer data between the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs‘ electronic health records systems, Federal News Radio reports.
Michael O’Connell writes the Pentagon plans to hold a full and open competition for EHR modernization and will continue working with the VA on the interoperability, data federation and presentation of the integrated EHR platform.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made those decisions and announced them in a memo addressed to Frank Kendall, under secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics; and Jessica Wright, acting under secretary for personnel and readiness.
Hagel directed Kendall to oversee the Pentagon’s healthcare records interoperability and modernization efforts and also lead technical and acquisition aspects of coordination with the VA, O’Connell reports.
Wright’s office will be responsible for coordinating healthcare with the VA and the assistant defense secretary for health affairs will serve as functional sponsor for the EHR capability, the report said.
