EHR Rollout, Paused Clinical Trials and Research Staff Cuts Draw Senate Scrutiny
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Summary
Senators questioned the VA about electronic health record (EHR) deployment problems and a 90‑day pause on some clinical trials and research renewals; the secretary said clinicians are involved and the pause allows review of protocols and staffing implications.
Committee members raised concerns about the department’s electronic health record (EHR) rollout, clinical trials and research staffing during testimony from Secretary Collins.
Secretary Collins described efforts to accelerate EHR deployment, cited coordination problems with the contractor (Oracle) and said the VA consolidated multiple internal committees into a single decision body to reduce rollout delays. "We've also cut down on our side, the amount of delay that was caused... and cut that down to 1 committee, that then can communicate directly with Oracle," Collins said.
Clinical trials and research staffing: Senators told the committee that some research appointments and trials have been paused or deferred amid staffing and contract reviews. Collins said the VA placed a temporary 90‑day stop on some new trials for review "so we can examine and make sure that everything's going good." He also said ongoing trials were being reviewed and some continued if deemed appropriate.
Why it matters: Senators emphasized patient safety and continuity of care. Senator Patty Murray and others asked whether planned workforce changes had been coordinated with clinical leaders overseeing EHR and research deployments; witnesses from VA clinical leadership had told the committee they had not been fully briefed on some staffing scenarios. Collins said clinical and program leaders had working groups and that clinical input had been incorporated into some EHR planning.
Unresolved items: Committee members asked for more information on which trials were paused, how many veterans were enrolled in paused trials, and whether pausing renewals of research personnel would prevent ongoing or scheduled studies from proceeding. Collins agreed to provide those counts and additional status updates to the committee.
Ending: The committee requested a written accounting of paused trials, affected veterans, and the plan to protect patient safety during EHR rollouts and research‑staffing changes; the VA said it would supply the requested details.
