The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is set to restart deployments of its Oracle Cerner Millennium electronic health record (EHR) system in mid-2026. The move comes after a freeze on most new deployments due to technical challenges, cost overruns, and patient safety concerns since its initial rollout in 2020. VA Secretary Denis McDonough had previously indicated to Congress that the department aimed to end the pause on new deployments by fiscal year 2025.
However, the VA has now adjusted its timeline, planning early-stage implementation at four Michigan-based medical facilities in mid-2026. “VA will kick off pre-deployment activities in the coming weeks,” the department announced in a press release. The move marks a cautious return to the modernization program, which had been beset by numerous issues since its inception at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington.
The new EHR system is designed to be interoperable with the Department of Defense’s (DOD) modernized EHR system, also from Oracle Cerner. Since April 2023, the VA has paused deployments to address the myriad problems that surfaced in the five facilities where the system had been installed. Despite these challenges, the VA has made significant improvements to the software and is incorporating feedback from veterans and clinicians.
“VA is ready to begin planning for the next federal EHR deployments in 2026, while remaining committed to continuous improvement efforts,” said Dr. Neil Evans, Acting Program Executive Director of the EHRM Integration Office.
Cerner deployment resumes after system freeze
The VA stated that the ongoing “reset period” has allowed it to address system outages and enhance trust and satisfaction with the software among veterans and clinicians. “Clinician and staff satisfaction with the Federal EHR has increased each year since 2022,” the department noted, emphasizing improvements in service availability and quality of care delivery. Nonetheless, lawmakers continue to express skepticism about the VA moving out of the reset phase.
During a House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee hearing in July, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., remarked, “I think we are far from ready to endorse further go-live activities.” Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., stated that the Oracle Cerner EHR “is not a system that is meant for the VA medical system” and called for its abandonment.
Political hurdles have also impeded legislative efforts to enhance oversight of the EHR deployment. A package of veterans’ legislation known as the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act initially included provisions for improving the EHR system rollout but later dropped them due to political viability issues. Congressional concerns are further fueled by significant cost overruns and safety issues.
The project was initially estimated to take 10 years and cost $16 million, but recent estimates from the Institute for Defense Analyses suggest it could exceed $37 billion. The future of the modernization initiative remains unclear, as the incoming administration has signaled a strong focus on reducing perceived government waste. President-elect Donald Trump has announced the creation of an advisory body, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, to recommend federal cost-saving measures.
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
