McMorris Rodgers Responds to VA’s Decision to Halt Electronic Health Record System

Washington, D.C. – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) today released the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that future deployments of the new Electronic Health Record (EHR) system will be halted.

“I am glad to see the Department of Veterans Affairs finally taking ownership over the failed rollout of the Electronic Health Record system. Accountability is the first step down the long road towards getting this right,” said Rodgers. “Veterans in Eastern Washington deserve a system that works for them, so while I believe the decision to halt the rollout is the right one, my oversight of the system will continue so no more veterans are hurt by it.” 

According to the VA, the reset will be used to address issues with the EHR and redirect resources to focus on optimizing the EHR at the sites where it is currently in use, including Mann-Grandstaff Medical Center in Spokane and Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center in Walla Walla.

NOTE: Earlier this year, Cathy introduced the VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Improvement Act. This legislation would immediately freeze the rollout of Oracle Cerner’s electronic health record modernization (EHRM) system to any additional facilities until significant improvements are made to prevent patient harm.

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