My HealtheVet

Department of
Veterans Affairs

Memorandum

Date:

July 26, 2007

From

VHA OMB Clearance Liaison (19E1)

Subj:

Request for Approval of Generic Patient Satisfaction Survey (2900-0570)

To:

VA OMB Clearance Officer (005E3)
The VHA Office of Information requests permission to survey veterans and health care
providers who have particiapated in the My HealtheVet Program. My HealtheVet
(www.myhealth.va.gov) is a web-based application that enables veterans to create and
maintain a robust Personal Health Record (PHR) provides access to trusted health
information, links to Federal and VA benefits and resources, a comprehensive Personal
Health Journal, and for enrolled veterans, online requests for VA prescription refills.
a.

POINT OF CONTACT for this survey is:

Kim M. Nazi
MHV Performance and Evaluation Manager
[email protected]
(518) 449-0621
b.
PURPOSE: The VHA My HealtheVet Pilot Program presents a unique opportunity
to evaluate the perceived and actual benefits to patients and clinicians, in some cases based on
nearly seven years of experience. The scope of inquiry for this particular study is focused on
capturing the perceptions and feedback of the veterans and their providers who have participated
in the My HealtheVet Pilot program.
The second veteran survey instrument consists of the addition of five questions to the VHA Survey
of Healthcare Experiences of Patients (SHEP) in order to collect data related to patient satisfaction
with the National My HealtheVet Program. My HealtheVet-related SHEP questions will enable
assessment of the effectiveness of the national program in meeting veterans’ needs and
expectations.
Collecting satisfaction data related to the Program is an integral dimension of program
evaluation.

c.

BURDEN:
My HealtheVet Pilot Survey: 7428 x 20 minutes / 60 = 2476 hours
My HealtheVet SHEP Questions: 1000 x 5minutes / 60 = 83 Hours

d.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
See attachment.

Request for Approval for My HealtheVet Veteran Surveys 2007
2900-0570

The Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) My HealtheVet Program is a national program which is
available to serve all veterans (24.3 million) as well as Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) staff, health
care providers, and veteran family members and caregivers. My HealtheVet (www.myhealth.va.gov) is a
web-based application that enables veterans to create and maintain a robust Personal Health Record
(PHR). My HealtheVet provides access to trusted health information, links to Federal and VA benefits
and resources, a comprehensive Personal Health Journal, and for enrolled veterans, online requests for
VA prescription refills. New features for enrolled veterans are being rolled out incrementally and will soon
include a secure copy of key portions of the VA Electronic Medical Record.
As a complement to VA’s award-winning Electronic Medical Record (VistA/CPRS), the My HealtheVet
Personal Health Record offers veterans an opportunity to more fully participate as partners with
physicians in their health care. Based on the early success of the My HealtheVet Pilot, the National My
HealtheVet Program was released in November 2003 as a basic framework to which enhanced features
and services have been added incrementally each year. The program is provided as a benefit to all
veterans and VA staff. The release of extracted electronic medical record data in 2007 will offer veterans
who are VA patients the same kind of functionality that has been available in the pilot, enabling a
successful transition for My HealtheVet Pilot participants, and subsequent closure of the Pilot program.
The VHA My HealtheVet Personal Health Record is based on the core belief that knowledgeable patients
are better able to make informed health care choices, stay healthy, and seek services when they need
them. Given the significant range of potential benefits that personal health records may offer, the use of
PHRs as integrated tools to complement traditional care interactions requires evaluation to identify the
qualitative and quantitative impact on patients, providers, and health care systems. One dimension of the
performance evaluation plan for My HealtheVet is focused on capturing the perceptions and feedback of
the veterans and health care providers who have used My HealtheVet. This is an important first step that
will fill the current gap in empirical support that exists in the eHealth arena.

1