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VA Medical Facilities Test Cloud Application to Ensure Veteran Patient Privacy

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is implementing an "unnamed commercial cloud application" by the end of the summer, according to VA CIO Roger Baker. Once it goes live, the application will allow file and data sharing within the cloud by VA employees without any threat to the veteran patients' personal health privacy and information.

The VA has a mixed history with their IT system security due to both internal and external problems. VA employees have violated VA security protocols multiple times in the recent past, an issue of concern when it comes to safeguarding veterans disability information and other sensitive data.

One example of the internal threats the VA faces presented itself as employees risked patient confidentiality by using web-based programs and commercial cloud programs to store personal patient information. At another location, employees posted a spreadsheet including veteran patient names and diagnosis's that was not properly encrypted to an external website.

Baker claims the new cloud application will resolve those issues, among others. Employees will only be able to access the cloud through the VA system, and must authenticate themselves in order to log into the application. The corresponding commercial site will contain a secure VA section.

Baker stresses this cloud application is not a VA product, but "the authentic version of the cloud software." In time, the VA will prove the security of the application and put to rest current concerns about threats to patient privacy.

Contacting a South Florida Disability Attorney

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.