VA Study: E-Records Enhance Veterans' Health Care

Access to electronic records has enhanced patient and doctor communication among the country’s veterans, according to a recent U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs study and local veteran medical providers agree communication and satisfaction with health care have improved.

Overton Brooks VA Medical Clinic public affairs officer Sandy Franks said VA’s system is one the private sector is trying to duplicate as it provides continuity of care and immediate access to a patient’s health records by any physician at any VA clinic or hospital.

For example, a Monroe veteran can go anywhere in the United States, and the VA clinic or hospital staff can pull up their entire medical history with the click of a button. Medical staff can see every form of treatment, tests and medicine prescribed for that veteran since the time he or she has been enrolled in the VA database.