The Department of Veterans’ Affairs healthcare system is due for some modernization in its IT department, according to a government watchdog report published Wednesday.
In February 2015, the Government Accountability Office designated the VA healthcare system as a “high-risk area” because it was unable to ensure safe and quality healthcare to veterans.
One of the reasons for this designation was the VA’s inability to modernize its IT system.
The outpatient appointment scheduling system proved to be outdated, there were no signs of development for a system that would electronically sort information on surgical implants, and the system was not able to easily exchange information with the Department of Defense.
These failures contribute to the “timeliness, quality, and safety” of VA medical care.
In addition, there have been recent increases in utilization of VA care, according to the watchdog report, which has made it difficult for the VA to process claims quickly. The VA has no plans to modernize this process either.
Even though the VA has shown significant failures in its IT system, it has still spent billions of dollars on its modernization. The GAO, consequently, calls into question the VA’s use of funds.
The GAO states the necessity of modernization in the VA IT department so veterans are served in a timely and effective manner.
