DoD standardizing IT infrastructure ahead of EHR modernization

DoD standardizing IT infrastructure ahead of EHR modernization

The agency is touting progress already made toward its stated goal of building up-to-date IT for the military health system

As the Defense Health Agency gets set to start the massive undertaking of replacing and modernizing its electronic health record system, the agency is standardizing and consolidating its sprawling IT infrastructure.

DHA’s ultimate aim is to develop up-to-date, fully operational IT services for its military health system.

“So far DHA has made progress on infrastructure preparedness – particularly in the Pacific Northwest Region where we will achieve initial operating capability with the modernized EHR before rolling it out more widely – and efforts are on schedule,” David Bowen, CIO for the Military Health System, told Federal Times.

The DoD’s Healthcare Management Systems Modernization program is spending $11 billion to transition to a new EHR system, which will support more than 9.7 million beneficiaries, including active duty, retirees and their dependents. The current EHR system serves patients and clinicians in 2,300 locations around the world, and the DHMSM contract is expected to be awarded this summer.

Bowen said a “Tiger Team” of DHA engineers and other staffers has been working at the Pacific Northwest site developing infrastructure plans. The works includes ensuring the Military Treatment Facility network bandwidth requirements for wired and wireless networks support military healthcare operations. As standardization efforts move forward, a secure, centralized IT infrastructure with authentication across application, desktop and server environments is among the goals. Bowen said providers and staff will be able to operate within the medical facility and access their information resources.

 

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