430,000 Reasons Why the VA Embraces Technology

It turns out that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was wrong when it projected that 25,000 veterans would use the Blue Button technology that the agency introduced late last year. The number of veterans downloading personal health data by clicking on the VA's Blue Button is actually closer to 430,000, according to a report issued by Todd Park, chief technology officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

By clicking the popular Blue Button, users of the VA’s health portal can easily create a report that includes their upcoming appointments at a VA Medical Center, medications, allergies, health reminders and laboratory results. The report can be downloaded into a personal health record on the individual’s computer or it can be printed out and shared with the veteran’s other health providers...