Washington, D.C. (November 3, 2021) – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) today sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Donald Remy encouraging him to join her on a visit to the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane.

Cathy sent this letter to Deputy Secretary Remy just one day after testifying before the House Veterans Affairs Committee, during which the deputy secretary announced plans to visit Mann-Grandstaff in the coming weeks.

“We need answers and results before the VA deploys the Electronic Health Record (EHR) at other VA facilities,” Cathy wrote in the letter. “I recognize that you only recently inherited this project from your predecessor and appreciate how you have jumped into this challenge with both feet. I am eager to work with you to ensure that this project makes things better for America’s veterans, not worse.”

She concluded, “I think an in-person visit will be critical for gaining a clear picture of the problems veterans, staff, and health care providers are facing at Mann-Grandstaff. I would appreciate the opportunity to accompany you on this visit, so we can show the community that Congress and the VA are fully committed to seeing the EHR project through to success.”

CLICK HERE to read the letter. You can also watch their exchange here and below:

TIMELINE OF EVENTS:

• In March, Cathy called for a review of the Cerner electronic health record (EHR) system at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane after hearing an increasing number of complaints and pleas for help from veterans in Eastern Washington. 
• Her request was immediately agreed to by Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough. 
• In May, Cathy continued to advocate for veterans, working to restore 24/7 urgent care and to address the community care backlog at the Mann-Grandstaff medical center.
• In June, the review was completed and revealed problems at Mann-Grandstaff that must be resolved before the system is deployed at additional VA sites.
• In July, Cathy called for increased transparency around the 90-day strategic review of the Cerner EHRM at Mann-Grandstaff and urged Secretary McDonough to address concerns around the real improvements that have yet to be made to the system
• In September, Cathy spoke with Deputy Secretary Remy directly after the VA failed to respond to her July letter, pressing him to focus on resolving the problems identified in the strategic review. 

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