VLER health data sharing to expand

By September of this year, Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record, or VLER, web portals should allow veterans the ability to authorize the release of specific medical information held by the Veterans Affairs Department to designated providers. The electronic record, common to VA and the Defense Department, will also implement new health information sharing methodologies beginning with September pilots in 11 geographic regions, according to a VA fact sheet, which Nextgov reports was presented at a June 26 conference.

VLER will leverage the Health and Human Services Department's Nationwide Healthcare Information Network, or NwHIN, query and response standards, to allow clinical health information to be shared among communities of pre-authorized healthcare providers, such as DoD, VA and private providers, says the fact sheet. Called VLER Exchange, the information sharing network is currently being tested in five regions and following the fall pilots, VA will have "go/no go" decision for nationwide implementation in July 2012, says the fact sheet.

Another project underway is called VLER Data Access Service, according to the fact sheet which provided no implementation date. The service will provide access VLER data aggregate results for the consumer to view.