Department of Veterans Affairs is almost finished implementing a tool to its legacy EHR system that will improve scheduling appointments for veterans despite the agency's upcoming transition to a Cerner system, FedScoop reports.
The prospective launch of the Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture Scheduling Enhancement System comes almost four years after its initial November 2015 deadline. The $4.1 million tool ended up costing $6.18 million due to "additional software development and enhancements and a post-warranty support extension," according to an Aug. 20 VA Inspector General report.
VSE is now "almost complete," according to the IG report, however, no further details regarding a launch date have been released. The new system will subsequently be replaced by a built-in scheduling system within the VA's new $16 billion Cerner EHR, which is projected to deploy at all VA medical facilities between 2020 and 2023.
The VSE project, which kicked off in May 2014 under a contract with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services, experienced delays due to issues regarding management of requirements, meeting user needs and continuity of leadership, according to FedScoop.
To prevent future delays of IT projects, VA Office of Information and Technology has implemented "a new program management review process to ensure IT programs and projects deliver and sustain the intended outcomes," VA CIO James Gfrerer said, according to the IG report.