Two years later, DOD and VA are still far off on merging digital medical records

Two years ago, leaders from the Defense Department and Veterans Affairs promised to redouble efforts to make seamless, lifetime medical records a reality for troops enlisting in the military.

Now, officials acknowledge it could take up to six more years to get the agencies’ separate digital medical records systems coordinated. Information technology experts say departmental infighting is hobbling the effort, and question whether the agencies will be able to stick to even the six-year estimate, considering their rocky past.

Veterans groups are frustrated as well, especially with a wave of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans already beginning to seek health care services at VA facilities.