The Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) is VA’s new EHR system that is being rolled out to all VA medical facilities as soon as 2031. This standardized system is used by VA’s doctors, nurses and frontline staff to provide care to Veterans. It securely and effectively shares information between VA, Department of Defense (DoD), other federal agencies, and participating community care providers. Getting the Federal EHR to all VA facilities faster is a Veteran-first priority set by VA Secretary Doug Collins and will benefit Veterans in several ways.
Easier transition from military to VA care
Veterans do not have to manage the transfer of their medical records when they separate from the military because the records are already in the new system. This means less hassle for Veterans and providers.
More time talking with providers about current concerns
Veterans spend more time talking with providers about current concerns and available treatments and less time repeating things like health history, allergies and medications. In fact, Veterans receiving care at Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Illinois, told VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence that their providers are now able to spend more time interacting with them during their appointments rather than looking at their medical records on a computer screen.
Less time undergoing repeat tests, imaging and exams
Veterans spend less time repeating procedures, imaging and exams. This is because results and reports from DoD and the community care providers are already in the system.
Improved prevention and innovative treatment options
As the Federal EHR system is deployed to more facilities, VA can analyze Veteran and service member data more easily. This means deeper insights into Veteran health issues—informing innovative treatments for all Veterans.
Consistent experience from one VA facility to another
If a Veteran is referred to another VA facility, it will operate the same and can quickly access all records, referrals and orders. Additionally, Veterans will only use one patient portal no matter which VA facility they go to.
To learn more about the Federal EHR, visit VA’s EHR Modernization website.
Topics in this story
More Stories
Secretary Collins and Deputy Secretary Lawrence have made deploying the Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) a top priority.
Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) teams now have a faster and more secure way to support Veterans in remote areas, even those without internet access, thanks to the recent implementation of the Oracle Health Community Care app, formerly known as Mobile Care.
The Dayton VA Medical Center’s Change Leadership Team has an honorary member ready to help end users prepare for the facility’s Federal Electronic Health Record deployment. Meet Snaxs!
The gulf war records should already be at VA records and unclassified
Me gusta esto, VAmigos. One system for all DoD and Vets community care mean less headache for us vets, faster care, and no more chasing paper records like lost puppies. I remember back in my Army days, you get hurt overseas, then come home and half your record disappear — this fix that. My suggestion? First, give training early to VA staff so when my battle buddies walk in, they don’t get the “uh, let me figure it out” face. Second, make sure the Veteran-facing portal is simple, not full of govgobbledygook. Me need plain language, big buttons, and clear instructions, easy for simple old soldier like mi. This way, even my jefe sergeant buddies who still use flip phone can get they records without call to grandkid. Keep push hard on this — fast rollout better health, better life for the my soldados amd muchachas. Muchos amor per todos!
Right now Im trying to find out why the Gulf war records
at NARA were not announced. IOD Military 2017 pdf suggest
they were available as early as 2017. The true release dates
would have been lat 2020 to early 2021. 30 years after the war.
Here it is 2025 and I just found them. “Indexing On Demand” section
of NARA II. About 4 years after the release date. But, no signs any
where that anyone was told. It wasnt there in 2021 because I
was always looking and the pdf text would have come up in a
Google search.
So Rep John Carter has stepped up to ask NARA for the records.
Also talking with House and Senate VA to ask they look.
In February 2025 I wrote to Sec of VA Doug Collins about help
with these records. He farmed me off to someone and blew this
off. As far as Im concerned, he knew about the NARA records
and elected to remain silent. So lets see what House and Senate
think of that one.
6.6 million records 34 years after the war. 30 years is release date for
Top secret. So things did go bad if only 47,000 records were released.
Plenty there to service connect Gulf war veterans through the
Genesis portal, as to where, when, and how.
Im saying VA is dishonest, and Sec of VA Denis McDonough knew as well.
Thousands have been hurt by this with holding of information. Its criminal
intent and qualifies as war crimes. Could have been treating exposures
rather than vilifying veterans about them.
2 trillion in fraud. Falsified going into Iraq in 2003. Betrayed those troops
during OIF covering up there exposures.
Where is my Toxic Exposure Pathology Center, so we can verify the chemical
exposures like recursive dusty Mustard – the boot cuff rash.
This isnt over, 28 years Ive chased this. 46,000 hours. 2025 we come clean
about the 34 year mess that is the Gulf war.
Why does it take so long to implement this program? We’re in the AI age now. It seems that it always takes the VA a log time to get anything done.
Make sure you focus on data migration. Big EHR companies like Epic are known for only hiring those already with Epic experience, rather than people who know what the hell they’re doing. Right after an Epic conversion, my civilian primary then asked if I had an insurance I hadn’t had in 15 years. The office manager’s response was that they just converted to Epic. As a Healthcare IT BA for 2 decades, including huge data migrations and EHR implementation, but never Epic, I’m warning you not to go down that route. Spend the money on data migration testing. It’s well worth it. My current project had a bad data migration with a new system in 2016 and end users are still feeling the pain a decade later. You’ve been warned.
How do we get a full copy of our Military Medical records to prove a disability?
About time because the Battle Creek Michigan VA is broken at best regarding care in the community. Or maybe I should use TriCare as a Retiree and have them bill the VA for everything?!?
Thanks much for all you do for us . Keep up the good work it is greatly appreciated by many of us!
God bless you folks.
It’s about fricken time! I have had 5 pulmonary exams, three the exact same at three different locations. It’s taken me 2 years to finally get a firm diagnosis of COPD but even then, absolutely NO CREDIT for my service in Desert Storm which caused my condition!