The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to expand the use of telehealth services. The agency’s 2016 budget, worth some $56 billion, includes $1.2 billion for telehealth efforts to connect rural and remote veterans with healthcare services, representing a $126 million increase over the 2015 budget.
One of the priorities identified by VA officials is mental health treatment that may include virtual visits conducted over a phone, tablet or computer.
In 2016, the Agency will set aside $4.1 billion for its IT needs, a $230 million increase from the 2015 budget. 55 percent of this amount will go towards “customized medical programs” designed to improve care delivery to veterans.
The budget earmarks $30 million to interoperability initiatives and $203 million for upgrades to the VA’s EMR system, with $183 million tabbed for VistA Evolution and $20 million for the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record system. VA also plans to streamline the MyVA portal, which is used to access VA services from any location and on a variety of devices.
The VA’s IT system serves some 152 hospitals, 56 regional benefits centers and 821 outpatient clinics in the country.
[Via: mHealthNews]