Collaboration on electronic health records between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs is an especially important issue as more and more Soldiers transition from active duty and enter the VA health system. This is especially true for Soldiers leaving active service and joining the Guard or Reserve.
Sharing health data information and eliminating the communication gaps is exactly what the two departments are doing as they work to improve the continuity of care for Soldiers and Veterans while at the same time increasing patient safety.
While DoD's goal is to enhance continuity of care for transitioning Soldiers, it is also critically important to safeguard their Personal Health Information (PHI) as patients move between the DoD
and VA healthcare systems, and sometimes back again. This health data sharing initiative ensures health information is up to date, accessible and available for treatment purposes. DoD's Notice of Privacy and Practices helps safeguard this health information and outlines how Soldiers' PHI may be used or disclosed and what Soldiers' rights are.
Tom Leonard, Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy coordinator for the U.S. Army Medical Command, notes that there are many ways that PHI is shared between the DoD and VA.
"Many Soldiers receive treatment from the VA and then return to receive treatment from DoD healthcare providers who review the VA information. Other Soldiers," he adds, "are being processed through the Individual Disability Evaluation System and receive VA Compensation and Pension Examinations to complete their record for processing through the Army Physical Disability Agency. Still others are receiving benefits from the VA while still on active duty."
Leonard says that at separation/discharge, all Soldiers' service treatment records are transferred to the VA for future potential disability claims processing. The DoD and VA are in a close partnership in delivering quality care to Soldiers. "Ongoing improvement in electronic PHI sharing will play an increasing role in making sure it happens," concludes Leonard.
Ultimately, here's what Soldiers and Veterans need to know about what health data information may be shared and how that information is protected:
• In many instances, DoD and VA cannot disclose or use their PHI without the patient's written authorization.
• Patients have the right to review and obtain a copy of their PHI.
• They may also request corrections or amendments to their record.
• They may make a request to view their information in an alternative way.
• Finally, they have the right to request that their information not be used or disclosed by DoD and to obtain a paper copy of the Military Health System Notice of Privacy Practices.
• However, patients should be aware that, for treatment purposes, DoD and the VA share electronic health information in a safe and secure environment. PHI of Veterans who are active duty Soldiers, Reservists or National guard members will be shared with their DoD provider and VA cannot honor requests to restrict this information.
If you'd like to get more information about your privacy rights, here are some websites that provide additional information on privacy practices:
• VA/DoD Health Information Sharing: http://go.usa.gov/YMmh
• VA Notice of Privacy Practices: http://go.usa.gov/YPdP
• Military Health System (DoD) Notice of Privacy Practices: http://go.usa.gov/YPdG
Related Links:
VA/DoD Health Information Sharing
Military Health System (DoD) Notice of Privacy Practices
Social Sharing