VA EHR Project to Resume in 2023 Following Setbacks and Staff Layoffs
The Department of Veterans of Affairs plans to resume its Oracle Cerner EHR system in 2023, following a year characterized by technological setbacks and a broken budget.
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By - Policy news this week includes updates on the Oracle Cerner Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) project and news about an emerging pro-Russian hacktivist group threatening the US healthcare sector.
VA EHR Program to Resume in June
VA officials remain optimistic that the Oracle Cerner EHR system will restart deployment in June of 2023 despite setbacks that plagued the program this past year. A VA spokesperson commenting on the matter told Nextgov that the VA is working on an updated schedule, which will be shared with the public pending approval. Initial deployment began in 2020 at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, where issues arose with EHR downtime and glitches. READ MORE.
VA Medical Center Cuts Staff
Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center is cutting staff to deal with rising costs associated with its EHRM project. After increasing staffing by 20 percent between October 2018 and September 2022, the medical center will have to cut back to avoid a budget shortfall.
“The medical centers in our districts should not have to choose between staffing up to continue safely caring for veterans and blowing a hole in their budgets, forcing painful cuts in the future,” wrote legislators in a letter to VA deputy secretary Donald Remy. READ MORE.
Pro-Russian Hacktivists Target US Healthcare
An analyst note from the Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center claimed that KillNet, a pro-Russian hacktivist group, poses a threat to the healthcare sector. The group has threatened US Congress, warning that it would sell health and personal data because of US-Ukraine policy.
“Although KillNet’s ties to official Russian government organizations, such as the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) or the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), are unconfirmed, the group should be considered a threat to government and critical infrastructure organizations, including healthcare,” the analyst note stated. READ MORE.
FDA Committee Exploring COVID Vaccine Regimens
In an FDA announcement, the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Peter Marks, MD, PhD, shared that the officials will convene a committee to discuss future COVID vaccine regimens. The meeting is scheduled for January 26, 2023, and will determine future modifications to the COVID vaccines and recommended booster schedules. The meeting will also consider vaccine efficacy and safety and a comparison between vaccines to determine the future of COVID-19 vaccination priorities. READ MORE.
HHS Releases Alzheimer’s Disease Plan
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its updated National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, highlighting achievements and goals for 2023. The HHS plan for 2023 aims to address disparities in Alzheimer’s outcomes and provide advanced prevention tactics and treatments. READ MORE.
