VA IT Improves Quality of Health Care While

VA Health Information Technology Improves Quality of Health Care While
Reducing Costs

WASHINGTON (April 7, 2010) - The Department of Veterans Affairs has
shown that health information technology provides improved quality of
health care and substantial cost savings, according to a study in the
public health journal Health Affairs. The use of technology lowered
costs while producing improvements in quality, safety and patient
satisfaction.

"VA has seen its investment in health information technology pay off for
Veterans and taxpayers for many years, and this study provides positive
evidence for this correlation," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric
K. Shinseki. "The benefits have exceeded costs, proving that the
implementation of secure, efficient systems of electronic records is a
good idea for all our citizens."

The study, which covered a 10-year period between 1997 and 2007, found
that VA's health IT investment during the period was $4 billion, while
savings were more than $7 billion. The authors noted that most of the
savings are in areas that also improve quality, safety and patient
satisfaction.

More than 86 percent of the savings were due to eliminating duplicated
tests and reducing medical errors. The rest of the savings came from
lower operating expenses and reduced workload. The authors further
noted that these were conservative estimates of net value, based on
available literature and published studies.

VA has also begun piloting health record exchanges with the Department
of Defense and private-sector providers. These programs are paving the
way for the seamless, lifetime exchange of the health care records of
Veterans, regardless of where they live.

VA has been using health IT systems for more than 20 years to improve
medical outcomes and efficiency in delivering care. The use has grown
to support the full range of patient care, including computerized
patient records, bar-coded medications, radiological imaging, and
laboratory and medication ordering.

The study looked at the success in meeting clinical guidelines through
the use of electronic health records and computerized physician alerts.
Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, which impacts about 25 percent of VA
patients, was a focus of the study. VA patients with diabetes had
better glucose testing compliance and control, more controlled
cholesterol, and more timely retinal exams compared to Medicare's
private-sector benchmark. Retinal damage can be caused by diabetes. VA
averaged about 15 percentage points higher than the private sector on
preventive care for patients with diabetes.

The study authors are associated with the Center for Information
Technology Leadership, a research organization in Charlestown, Mass.,
which is focused on guiding the health care community in making informed
strategic IT investment decisions.

The study is available on the Internet at
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/29/4/629