Your Records Follow You: Hampton VA, Bon Secours Team Up to Share Health Records Electronically

The Obama administration in 2009 tasked the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense to come up with electronic medical records that can be shared among patients' providers. The first pilot, in San Diego, proved the technology would work. Hampton Roads was chosen for the second pilot site, and several partners have been working on it for the past year.

So far, 1,045 patients in Hampton Roads have signed up, giving permission for their providers at the VA, DOD and Bon Secours to view their electronic medical records. Eventually, the intent is to bring Riverside Health System, Sentara Healthcare and Eastern Virginia Medical School on board, said Dr. Katherine Gianola, the Hampton VA's clinical coordinator.

The program enables a patient's providers to view the same records, including allergies, medications, conditions, immunizations, vital signs, lab results and other information.