VA rolls out new EHR system to four more sites
The Department of Veterans Affairs activated its new electronic health records system at four additional medical facilities on Saturday, marking the second expansion of the troubled program this year after a multi-year pause. The Oracle Health EHR system went live at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Chillicothe VA Medical Center, and Dayton VA Medical Center in Ohio, along with the Cincinnati VA Medical Center-Fort Thomas in Kentucky. According to the VA, more than 7,200 providers and staff members and approximately 107,000 veterans in southern Ohio now have access to the new system.
The Federal Electronic Health Record, originally developed by Cerner and now owned by Oracle Health, represents the VA's effort to modernize how medical information is stored, shared, and accessed across its healthcare system. The program was initially introduced to medical centers in Washington, Oregon, and Ohio between 2020 and 2022, but experienced significant reliability and safety issues that led officials to halt the rollout in 2023. The pause came after widespread reports of system failures, patient safety concerns, and substantial cost overruns that raised questions about whether the multi-billion dollar modernization effort could succeed.
This latest rollout affects veterans who receive care at the four Ohio and Kentucky facilities and their associated community clinics. For disabled veterans enrolled in VA healthcare in the southern Ohio region, the new system changes how appointments are scheduled, how prescriptions are managed, and how medical records are accessed and shared between providers. The system is designed to eventually create a seamless health record that follows veterans across all VA facilities and can be shared with Department of Defense medical centers for those still serving in the Guard or Reserves.
Saturday's activation follows an April deployment to four VA health care facilities in Michigan, which introduced more than 200,000 veterans and 10,000 staff members to the system. VA officials reported receiving "exceptionally positive" feedback from that rollout, crediting improvements made during the pause period. Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence stated the VA hired additional staff and fixed "hundreds of problems" related to the initial Pacific Northwest implementation. VA Secretary Doug Collins told Congress in April that facility directors scheduled for future rollouts are requesting to accelerate their timelines based on positive reports from colleagues already using the system.
The VA's fiscal 2027 budget request includes $4.2 billion to continue deploying the system across 170 VA medical centers nationwide. Three medical centers in Indiana are scheduled to receive the system in August, with facilities in Alaska and Cleveland, Ohio, planned for October. For disabled veterans, a functioning electronic health records system is critical because many rely on coordinated care across multiple specialties and facilities, making accurate and accessible medical documentation essential for both treatment and benefits claims.
Veterans receiving care at the newly activated Ohio and Kentucky facilities should expect their providers and clinic staff to be working with the new system during upcoming appointments. While the VA reports positive feedback from recent rollouts, veterans should remain patient with any transition issues and report persistent problems through normal patient advocate channels. Those who use VA healthcare in Indiana, Alaska, or Cleveland should watch for communications from their facilities about upcoming changes and any required steps before their scheduled activation dates later this year.