Defense and VA urged to share more healthcare resources
Departments are already working on a joint system to provide mental health services by videoconferencing.
The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments should better share healthcare resources, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Monday.
The departments provide healthcare services to roughly 13.5 million individuals combined, the report said, and Congress has urged them to share resources in order to achieve cost-effectiveness and more efficient delivery of care.
While the departments are increasing collaboration and sharing of services and resources, including clinical guidelines and health information technology, they lack measurement tools to evaluate the joint strategic plan, according to the report.
The health IT projects that are under way include a joint TeleMental System that would let the VA give military beneficiaries mental health services via videoconferencing. Other projects include a $3.5 million test to the sharing of digital images and texts, and a $3 million project to share laboratory data.
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