On Monday, Cleveland Clinic and the Veterans Administration (VA) announced they will integrate with each other’s EMRs for “seamless access” starting this month, according to Crain’s Cleveland Business. The integration will expand Cleveland Clinic’s Care Care Everywhere HIE developed by Epic to the VA network allowing physicians to perform care coordination for more than 1,800 veterans.
Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER)
The VA has been making a major push to enroll more hospitals across the nation in its Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) to improve care for veterans who receive care from providers outside of the VA system. Launched in 2009, the VLER program gives VA and non-VA health care providers secure access to certain parts of our Armed Services electronic health records. This access reduces the need for Veterans and their families to request and carry paper medical records from one health care provider to another, and provides other potential benefits to Veterans and their providers.
Epic’s MyPractice Care Everywhere HIE platform provides access to a patient’s medical information so that the right care is delivered and eliminates delays in treatment and unnecessary tests, according to a news release.
“At Cleveland Clinic, we strive to participate in and help to advance the national dialogue around a more efficient and effective national health care system,” White said. “The expansion of Care Everywhere to the VA network can empower patients and physicians to better communicate and manage chronic conditions, improve efficiencies and hopefully lower costs, ”said Dr. Robert White, associate chief medical information officer in a statement.
