In late March, VA officials announced that nine additional facilities will implement the new, state-of-the-art federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, increasing the total number of locations going live in 2026 to 13.
The announcement was issued after VA Secretary Doug Collins decided to move the process forward. Originally, the project was anticipated to resume in mid-2026, with an 18-month training period for implementation.
“America’s veterans deserve a medical records system that is integrated across all VA and DOD components, and that is exactly what we will deliver,” Collins said in a press release issued by VA. “We can and will move faster on this important priority.”
With the new federal EHR system enhancing data exchange between the VA and the Department of Defense, veterans and VFW service officers in those states, which include Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Alaska, hope for improved customer service and convenience.
For VFW National Veterans Service (NVS) Director Michael Figlioli, this is a small step toward VFW’s ultimate goal of an optimized system where every veteran’s record is developed and maintained.
“We are encouraged to see the continued evolution of the EHR deployment,” Figlioli said. “Veterans have earned the right not only to the best available health care but to corresponding support and administrative services that help deliver that care.”
Amassing a network of about 2,000 service officers worldwide, NVS has helped more than 590,500 veterans recover $14.62 billion in benefits last year. Figlioli says VFW remains adamant about its vision and will reinforce its stance until all veterans using the VA system reap the benefits.
“We will continue to insist that VA improve its governance and change management protocols of this critical program,” Figlioli said. “Our goal is to continue to advocate for the successful development of every single record.”
VA officials expect to fully implement the new EHR system at every VA facility by early 2031.
This article is featured in the 2025 July/August issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., associate editor for VFW magazine.