Under Questioning By Underwood, Top DHS Official Confirms the Department’s Need For An Electronic Health Record System, Says Implementation is in Process
Underwood recently secured $30 million in funding to establish an EHR system across the Department of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON— Today, in a Homeland Security Committee Hearing, Vice Chair of the Committee Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) questioned top officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the need for an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system across all DHS components. Dr. Alexander L. Eastman, Senior Medical Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, stated that EHRs will allow DHS medical officials to effectively document the medical care being provided and ensure that DHS can measure, assess, and learn lessons for future medical care at the border. Additionally, the EHR system will help improve the Department's ability to conduct disease surveillance to monitor and combat the spread of potentially infectious diseases, including influenza.
"During my oversight trips to the border last year, I saw and heard firsthand about the need for resources to improve medical recordkeeping. As a nurse, I know how important clear recordkeeping is when it comes to patient outcomes and ensuring providers can most effectively do their jobs," said Underwood. "In response to what I saw at the border, I'm so proud that we passed bipartisan legislation last year to provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection with an electronic health record. And just a few days ago, President Trump signed an appropriations package that includes $30 million dollars in dedicated funding for that EHR."
In her questioning, Underwood also asked about how EHRs can help providers better communicate about patient care. Witnesses stated that EHRs allow the Department to effectively communicate and document the care DHS medical officials are providing from the point of apprehension to the point of release from DHS custody—critical information for DHS officers and medical officials. The Department of Homeland Security is currently in the process of building an EHR for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Full video of Underwood's remarks can be found here.
Ahead of the new year, Underwood was successful in her efforts to secure $30 million in funding for an interoperable EHR for CBP. The legislation providing that funding was signed as part of the appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2020. In September, Underwood's legislation, the U.S. Border Patrol Medical Screening and Standards Act (H.R. 3525), to establish an HER to set standards for medical screenings at the border passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.