HealthCast: VA Eyes 2026 Restart for EHR Rollout

Dr. Neil Evans, Acting Program Executive Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs' Electronic Health Record Modernization Integration Office, provided an update on the rollout of the common electronic health record (EHR). The VA paused the rollout in 2023 following optimization and reliability issues. Evans outlined plans to restart deployment in April 2026 at select sites in Michigan, with a target of full, enterprise-wide implementation by 2031. He described the VA's wave-based deployment schedule, which leverages user feedback and lessons learned from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the War Department, both of which have deployed the common EHR. Evans discussed the challenges and opportunities the EHR presents for veterans and active military personnel alike.