WASHINGTON, March 21 (UPI) -- The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments should better share healthcare resources, said Monday.
The DOD and Veterans affairs departments provide healthcare services to roughly 13.5 million individuals combined, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Monday. Congress has urged them to share resources in order to achieve cost-effectiveness and more efficient delivery of care, National Journal's Technology Daily reported.
The departments are increasing collaboration and sharing of services and resources, including clinical guidelines and health information technology. However, they lack measurement tools to evaluate the joint strategic plan, according to the report.
The health IT projects that are under way include a joint TeleMental System that would let the VA give military beneficiaries mental health services via video-conferencing. Other projects include a $3.5 million test to the sharing of digital images and texts, and a $3 million project to share laboratory data, Technology Daily said.
