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The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking for a few good IT solutions.
The agency released a Request for Proposal for an open source community based around its Veterans Integrated System Technology Architecture electronic health records system.
As part of the RFP, VA commits to use of the accepted open source solution at all sites, promises to handle all modifications not related to security or will pay for the modifications and will allow other public- and private-sector participation in open source VistA.
“VistA is an important asset for VA, and for the nation,“ said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “As we work to ensure that we provide veterans with the best in health care, modernization of VistA is absolutely critical. This move toward open source welcomes private sector partners to work with us to improve VistA, and is an important part of our strategy to ensure that VA clinicians have the best tools possible, and that veterans receive the best health care possible.”
Aiming for a summer release date, VA is seeking an open source operator that can effectively manage the platform while allowing other vendors to integrate their products into VistA.
VistA is used in 153 VA hospitals and more than 800 clinics across the country. The electronic health record system is also used by the Indian Health System and in more than 50 hospitals across the globe.
An RFI released in February quickly revealed open source as VA's best option. Responders stated better solutions could be found in open source platforms rather than in a single solution created by one company.
