Telehealth, Blue Button Boost VA To “Most Wired” List

Jennifer Bresnick | EHR Intelligence | July 22, 2013

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has joined the ranks of the nation’s “Most Wired” hospitals for the first time this year, scooping a spot on the Hospitals & Health Networks’ honor roll due to its telehealth, mHealth, and patient engagement efforts.   The “Most Wired” list, produced in collaboration with EHR vendor McKesson, the American Hospital Association, and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), ranks hospitals that have used health IT to provide innovative services to improve patient care.

“The Department is honored to be on the ‘Most Wired’ list this year,” VA Undersecretary for Health Dr. Robert Petzel said. “VA is dedicated to providing veteran patients with the best experience possible. Integrating HIT into our everyday processes has helped us to accomplish that goal and will continue to be a key part of our strategy moving forward.”  Petzel will accept the award on behalf of the VA during an AHA conference in late July.