The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) have a long history of sharing health information between their two Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Because many patients move between VA and DoD health care systems during their service, data sharing ensures health information is up-to-date, accessible and available for treatment purposes. This sharing of health information improves continuity of care and increases patient safety.

Over time, VA and DoD have expanded existing efforts to share information and eliminate gaps. Health information shared between VA and DoD includes admission data, allergies, consultations, deployment health assessments, lab orders, radiology reports, vital sign data and pharmacy data.

Protecting the security and privacy of health information is important to VA and DoD. VA’s Notice of Privacy Practices outlines the ways in which health information may be shared, the rights of patients and information about how to obtain more information on privacy practices. DoD manages privacy through TRICARE’s Privacy and Civil Liberties Office, which oversees the protection of personally identifiable and protected health information within the Military Health System.

Additional Information:

VA/DoD Health Information Sharing: http://go.usa.gov/YMmh

VA Notice of Privacy Practices: http://www.va.gov/vhapublications
/viewpublication.asp?pub_id=1089

DoD Notice of Privacy Practices: http://go.usa.gov/YPdG

FAQs on VA/DoD Partnership: http://www.ehealth.va.gov/
vadod_faq.asp

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