Posted on May 23, 2023
Spokane VA Director Warns Budget Trouble Caused by Computer System Is Forcing Staff Cuts
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — A projected $35 million budget deficit at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center caused largely by the use of a flawed computer system is forcing the Spokane hospital to reduce its staff, according to an internal email, despite the ongoing effects of the Department of Veterans Affairs' decision to test the system there.
In a May 9 email to supervisors, obtained by The Spokesman-Review, Mann-Grandstaff Director Robert Fischer wrote that the hospital would need to reduce its authorized staffing level by more than 15% because of the projected shortfall. That would mean eliminating the equivalent of 146 filled full-time positions as they become vacant, he said, even as national VA leaders acknowledge the new electronic health record system has reduced the number of veterans each clinician can see.
In a May 9 email to supervisors, obtained by The Spokesman-Review, Mann-Grandstaff Director Robert Fischer wrote that the hospital would need to reduce its authorized staffing level by more than 15% because of the projected shortfall. That would mean eliminating the equivalent of 146 filled full-time positions as they become vacant, he said, even as national VA leaders acknowledge the new electronic health record system has reduced the number of veterans each clinician can see.
Spokane VA Director Warns Budget Trouble Caused by Computer System Is Forcing Staff Cuts
Posted from military.com
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Spokane
Medical
Budget
Posted 12 mo ago
Responses: 2
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It appears that the program was never good to begin with but they went ahead and fielded Cerner. This is what Cerner was supposed to do: "VA is working to improve the sharing of Veteran health information by implementing a new electronic health record, or EHR, which is the software that stores health information and tracks all aspects of patient care for Veterans." Seems like a colossal eff up by everyone to include Kushner, Trumps SIL and the Mar A Lago crowd because the pushed to give Cerner Corp the contract.
Large and complex programs like this will often have unintended consequences which have to be fixed before fielding. I am sure red flags popped up, but it seems like Cerner was rammed down the VA's throat, warts and all. Apparently, the DOD uses the program thus some said it will be a seamless process of documents from the DOD to the VA. However, the VA functions are very different, and I will assume that is the crux of the matter. It had to be tailored for the VA. The one size fits all philosophy was a terrible myth.
DFAS attempted to create one pay platform for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Here are the problems that were faced:
- Pay is not completely standardized through ought the three branches.
- Programmers need to understand the business rules for pay to program properly.
- Data must migrate from one program to another, and sometimes that data does not migrate neatly.
- It became too complex to develop one pay platform.
Damning evidence about the Mar A Lago people: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/tech/gao-mar-a-lago-members-acted-as-advisors-va-initiatives-including-16b-cerner-ehr-contract
Large and complex programs like this will often have unintended consequences which have to be fixed before fielding. I am sure red flags popped up, but it seems like Cerner was rammed down the VA's throat, warts and all. Apparently, the DOD uses the program thus some said it will be a seamless process of documents from the DOD to the VA. However, the VA functions are very different, and I will assume that is the crux of the matter. It had to be tailored for the VA. The one size fits all philosophy was a terrible myth.
DFAS attempted to create one pay platform for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Here are the problems that were faced:
- Pay is not completely standardized through ought the three branches.
- Programmers need to understand the business rules for pay to program properly.
- Data must migrate from one program to another, and sometimes that data does not migrate neatly.
- It became too complex to develop one pay platform.
Damning evidence about the Mar A Lago people: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/tech/gao-mar-a-lago-members-acted-as-advisors-va-initiatives-including-16b-cerner-ehr-contract
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Interesting. My primary care PA at the Bonner County (ID) VA Clinic is leaving Friday to work at the Spokane VAMC . . .
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