VA’s EHR Modernization Contract with Oracle Health Renewed for Second Option Period: A Step Toward Improved Veteran Care by 2025

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the approval of the second option period for its EHR modernization (EHRM) contract with health IT vendor Oracle Health. This decision continues the partnership between VA and Oracle Health as part of the EHRM reset initiative that was launched last year.

Since its initial launch at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in October 2020, the EHR platform has faced ongoing system performance issues that have resulted in over 150 cases of harm and four veteran deaths. The 11-month option period award reaffirms VA’s commitment to improving the federal EHR for Veterans and supporting six VA healthcare facilities currently using the system during the reset process.

Tanya Bradsher, VA deputy secretary, emphasized the importance of this announcement in a press release, highlighting VA’s dedication to veterans, providers, and taxpayers while operating in a fiscally constrained environment. Bradsher stated that this contract’s second option period will enable continued progress towards achieving the objectives of resetting EHR deployments by fiscal year 2025.

During this option period, negotiations will focus on enhancing EHR improvements and optimizations to ensure greater predictability in system hosting, deployment, and sustainment. These efforts align with VA’s reset goals to resume EHR deployments by fiscal year 2025. Hannah Nelson has been reporting on health information technology and health data interoperability news since 2020.