STATEMENT FROM VA PRESS SECRETARY CURT CASHOUR
VA’s electronic health record modernization (EHRM) efforts thus far have been successful and
we are confident they will continue to be successful.
VA has made a historic decision to modernize its electronic health record system to provide our
nation’s Veterans with seamless care as they transition from military service to Veteran status and
when they choose to use community care.
While past administrations and VA secretaries failed to achieve this longstanding goal, the Trump
administration and Secretary Wilkie succeeded.
VA established the Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization (OEHRM) to ensure VA
successfully prepares for, deploys and maintains the new EHR solution and the health IT tools
dependent upon it.
The OEHRM Executive Director is Mr. John Windom, who has been with the effort since its
inception and has the necessary expertise and institutional knowledge to lead this initiative
effectively.
Prior to joining VA, Windom was a program manager for the Program Executive Office of the
Defense Healthcare Management Systems (DHMS).
He led his team to acquire, test, integrate and deploy a new EHR to replace DoD’s legacy system
in support of over 9.6 million military service members and other beneficiaries.
As Secretary Wilkie has said, “The new EHR system will be interoperable with DOD, while also
improving VA’s ability to collaborate and share information with community care providers. This
will ease the burden on service members as they transition from military careers and will be
supported by multiple medical providers throughout their lives.
“The EHR will give health care providers a full picture of patient medical history, driving better
clinical outcomes. It will also help us identify Veterans proactively who are at higher risk for
issues, such as opioid addiction and suicide, so health care providers can intervene earlier and
save lives.”