WATCH: Barrett Discusses Electronic Health Record Modernization Rollout With VA Secretary Collins
Click here or the image above to watch.
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today continued his work to provide oversight of the Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which will be rolled out at Michigan’s VA hospitals this spring. During a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, Barrett, VA Secretary Doug Collins, and Acting COO of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Gregory Goins discussed the impacts that reorganization of the VHA would have on the EHRM rollout.
Below are highlights from the hearing.
Congressman Barrett: “I [have] to bring up the EHRM rollout and how that will interface with this realignment of VISNs [Veterans Integrated Service Networks] and what type of expectation we have there and if we can be satisfied that will go on unencumbered with this change that you’re talking about as well.”
Secretary Collins: “That is one of our most important pieces as we go forward not only for direct care but also community care in the future is getting an EHRM, which again will go live [April 11th] in Michigan. But it’s on track and we’ve aligned it with the VISN structure as we change, and the rollout hopefully is as successful as it looks like we are going to be. These 13 this year will actually help with momentum getting into the other areas as well, possibly quicker.”
VHA Acting COO Gregory Goins: “We have worked with the deputy secretary’s office — the owner for EHRM rollout — and on the operations side we have made an agreement through Undersecretary Bartrum that we will make sure that the schedule that’s already been published is completely considered and unencumbered as we do the reorganization. Again, it is an iterative phased approach and we’re not in a hurry to just blow things up.”
Congressman Barrett: “So even though we’re doing EHRM through the current VISN structure rollout, it will not be impeded or affected by the change that you’re proposing?”
VHA Acting COO Gregory Goins: “Correct, in addition to the continuity of care priority, that is our second highest priority through the reorg.”
Background:
Barrett serves as chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization tasked with oversight of the VA’s EHRM initiative. Barrett has led several oversight hearings to ensure a smooth rollout of the new records system for veterans. This system is scheduled to deploy to VA facilities in Michigan in April 2026.
Click here to watch the full conversation between Barrett and Collins.