Defense Health Agency Focusing On IT For Savings, Efficiencies

One of the Defense Department's newest components is at the center of one of the Pentagon's biggest IT program overhauls, but the Defense Health Agency is also looking beyond an update of electronic health records to other ways technology can empower change amid budget cuts.

DHA will play a critical role in DOD's transition to a new health records system, but DHA leaders are also working on consolidating IT infrastructure, moving to DOD enterprise email, and boosting research and development.

DOD is expected to acquire a new commercial electronic health records (EHR) system this year to replace its aging AHLTA program. But DHA, which launched Oct. 1, will need to support existing features during the migration to the new system. Although the agency released a request for proposals on Dec. 31, 2013, to extend AHLTA support through at least 2019, DHA CIO Dave Bowen said a draft RFP for the new system will be released in the coming weeks and a final RFP will come in about a year.