31 Mar DOD, VA set new target for lifetime health record
The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments have formed a working group to pursue a joint lifetime electronic heath and benefits record for service members, veterans, and their families.
Rear Adm. Gregory Timberlake, director of the DOD/VA Interagency Program Office said yesterday the decision to form the group was made March 24 at a meeting of the Joint Executive Council, chaired by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki.
The idea to start the group followed discussions between Gates and Shinseki with White House staff, which has expressed interest in the project.
Timberlake told a gathering of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association in Washington March 26 that the objective of the group is to explore making a “lifetime longitudinal virtual electronic record” for service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries.
“DOD and VA need to seamlessly and transparently share data on the time, length, and locations of service,” he said. “VA services and benefits become available shortly after a service member is discharged. The idea is to create a record which will cover everything from the accession of the service member to an application to the Veterans Cemetery Authority.”
Timberlake will chair the working group.
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