Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Health Information Technology Helps Quality and Costs

April 12, 2010 - A recent study has concluded both the quality of offered health care, cost, and patient satisfaction were all improved with the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) health information technology.

The VA's investment in their improved health information technology does not just benefit veterans and taxpayers. The benefits outweigh the costs so much that according to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, it is proof positive that a system of secured electronic records is a good idea.

The study spanned 10 years, from 1997 - 2007. The VA's initial investment of $4 billion ended in saving over $7 billion. Diminishing medical errors and abolishing tests being duplicated accounted for more than 86% of the savings. The other 14% of savings came from reducing the employees' workloads and lowering operating costs.

Streamlining record exchanging between the private sector and the Department of Defense (DoD) has already started. Regardless of where veterans live, they will now have the availability of a lifetime of seemingly faultless health records exchange. Using health IT systems is not new to the VA; they have been using them for over 20 years. While limited at inception, the systems are currently used for all patient care include:

• Computerized patient records,
• Bar-coded medications;
• Radiological imaging; and
• Lab and medication ordering.

 Veterans deserve the very best health care available. The VA improving their health information technology will not only improve the quality of care the veterans currently receive but will save the VA a significant amount of money that can spent on yet another veteran life improving measure.