The Department of Veterans Affairs announced on April 13 that it has deployed the new Federal Electronic Health Record system at four hospitals in Michigan, marking the first rollout since a pause in 2023. The Federal EHR went live on April 11 at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, VA Battle Creek Medical Center, VA Detroit Healthcare System, and the VA Saginaw Healthcare System.
This deployment is part of an accelerated schedule that includes thirteen planned rollouts in 2026. The initiative aims to create a more connected and efficient experience for veterans receiving care across all VA facilities.
With this launch, veterans in Michigan will benefit from streamlined transfer of military health records among federal partners, integration of private sector health information into their care, and improved continuity when transferring between facilities or seeking emergency treatment. The system is also designed to reduce duplicative testing and allow medical staff to spend more time with patients rather than dealing with outdated technology.
The EHR project was previously paused by the Biden Administration due to problems encountered during its early rollout. According to the department, these issues included local customization efforts that complicated implementation and bureaucratic delays caused by multiple decision-making councils. The Trump Administration resumed progress by standardizing systems across facilities, consolidating oversight under a single council reporting directly to top leadership for increased accountability, involving local facility leaders more closely in preparations, and hiring additional staff—400 positions are being filled nationwide.
Further deployments are scheduled throughout 2026 at locations including Chillicothe VA Medical Center (Ohio), Cincinnati VAMC (Ohio), Fort Wayne VAMC (Indiana), Marion VAMC (Indiana), Richard L. Roudebush VAMC (Indiana), Alaska VA Healthcare System (Anchorage), and Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC (Ohio).
“These first EHR deployments in 2026 represent real progress toward a unified electronic health record that strengthens care delivery for our patients and providers,” said VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence. “With our Michigan sites now live, we are building strong momentum as we prepare for the next wave of implementation.”
More information about the EHRM program can be found at https://digital.va.gov/ehr-modernization.
