The VA and VistA: A Role Model for Radical Improvement of Health Systems Everywhere

There is a global consensus that integrated electronic health records are essential to improving health outcomes, providing better quality of care, insuring patient safety, and reducing costs. Unfortunately, the healthcare software industry has yet to produce effective clinical and administrative solutions which are desperately needed worldwide. The lesson for ARRA funding is pouring more money into the same approaches and solutions will continue to yield the same results.

The VA stands out as a role model for how software can be developed and improved to create the kind of fundamental paradigm shift that is essential to catalyzing real change. The session will explore how the VA used open, collaborative software development and improvement processes to drive clinical and cost improvement and transform itself into one of the best managed health systems in the world.