The Alaska VA Healthcare System will transition from its current health record system to the Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) system on Oct. 24, 2026. But first, Veterans need to learn about the changes they can expect.
Preparing Alaska Veterans for the Federal EHR transition
On Sept. 21, Alaska VA Healthcare System launched a mass-mailing campaign to get the word out. Jennifer Price, acting director of Alaska VA Healthcare System, personally mailed out the first 1,000 letters notifying Veterans about the upcoming transition at the post office located on VA’s Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Campus in Anchorage.
“We have 23,000 Veterans enrolled in the Alaska VA Healthcare System, and we are sending a letter to each and every one of them via the U.S. Postal Service to ensure they all receive this important information. For the past year, we’ve been doing a multimedia campaign. We’ve posted numerous articles and videos on our social media platforms and in the lobbies of our clinics. As excellent as that campaign has been, there are still Veterans out there who live in remote areas and perhaps have limited connectivity. So, this is another avenue to reach out to them to ensure they get the word,” Price said.
Key benefits Veterans will experience
Some of the benefits of the new system include:
- The Federal EHR will provide a single, accurate, standardized lifetime health record for Veterans that includes their health records from the Department of War, U.S. Coast Guard, other federal partners and community providers.
- Veterans will experience an easier transition from military care to VA care because Veterans won’t have to transfer their own records when they separate from the military. Their healthcare records will automatically be in the VA system.
- Veterans will be able to spend more time talking with providers about current concerns because they will spend less time repeating their health history.
- Veterans will avoid having to undergo repeat tests, imaging and exams because test results and reports from DOW and community healthcare providers will already be in the system.
- Veterans will experience an improved and consistent experience when transferring their care. If a Veteran is referred to another VA, or visits a community provider, or even is just traveling on vacation and needs to see a doctor, their new care team will be able to quickly access all their records, referrals and orders.
Though the new Federal EHR system will be a huge boon to Veterans for years and decades to come, there may be a few challenges around the time of go-live.
“My recommendation to Alaska Veterans is to get your prescription refills and your appointments scheduled now, so we are ahead of the curve,” said Price. “About 10 days before the go-live date, which is Oct. 24, 2026, until about six days afterwards, there may be some disruptions to services such as prescription refills and making appointments.
“Once fully deployed, the Federal EHR will better equip us to deliver the comprehensive healthcare Alaska Veterans have earned and deserve, both now and into the future,” she said.
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