In a post last week on the Federal Business Opportunities government website, the Department of Defense announced that it plans to host “demonstrations” of possible replacements for the Military Health System’s multiple electronic health record systems during the week of Oct. 21, Modern Healthcare reports (Conn, Modern Healthcare, 10/4).
Background
DOD and the Department of Veterans Affairs have been working to integrate their electronic health record systems. The departments first launched an effort to create a joint integrated EHR, or iEHR system, in 2009. The iEHR project aimed to allow every service member to maintain a single EHR throughout his or her career and lifetime.
However, DOD and VA officials in February announced plans to halt the iEHR project and instead focus on making their current EHR systems more interoperable (iHealthBeat, 10/3).
In May, DOD Secretary Chuck Hagel in a memo wrote that the agency will consider a commercial EHR system as part of its efforts to establish an integrated EHR program with the VA (iHealthBeat, 5/22).
Frank Kendall — DOD undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics — later said that DOD might consider a derivative of VA’s VistA EHR system (iHealthBeat, 5/24).
Details of Announcement, Application
According to the announcement, DOD is considering using an “off-the-shelf” alternative to replace its multiple EHR systems.
The application posted with the announcement asks vendors whether their EHR system meets Stage 1 criteria of the federal meaningful use program.
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR systems can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
It also asks vendors to describe their research and development plans for achieving Stage 2 of the meaningful use program.
The application also asks whether at least one hospital has used the vendor’s EHR to meet Stage 7 criteria for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s EHR adoption model.
According to the application, vendors who submit their products will have to show how the systems contribute to secondary data use, such as, “predictive analytics, research, management of patient safety incidents and overall support of the organization as a business entity” (Modern Healthcare, 10/4).source
