So What Makes The VA Work So Well?

Of course there are still problems within the VA but the implementation of an electronic records system provides the opportunity to practice outcome based medicine which has become the Holy Grail of all health care systems.  The computerized records allow tracking outcomes for various medical conditions and finding those that work best.  This weeds out expensive procedures that are no more effective than other less expensive ones.  Prescriptions for medications are also tracked on the computer and potential drug interactions are avoided.  According to studies, VA has the lowest drug interaction incidents and deaths in the country.

The electronic records also prevent duplication of expensive medical tests.  Some surveys indicate that 60% of the time, private sector providers order duplicates or triplicates of the same test.  This is because paper records make it difficult or almost impossible to track tests between different care providers.  Even in the same hospital, estimates are that one out of five tests are unneecessarily reordered.

Finally, electronic records help the veterans health system to maintain a more cost effective and smaller drug formulary.  Fewer categories of drugs allow VA to negotiate with drug companies for larger quantities at a lower price  If an existing, less expensive drug is proven through electronic records computer data to be just as effective as newer more expensive medicines, then obviously the older medicine will be favored.