{"id":8540,"date":"2026-10-07T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8540"},"modified":"2026-10-07T18:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T18:30:00","slug":"daytons-most-experienced-ehr-users-see-the-future-of-va-healthcare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8540","title":{"rendered":"Dayton\u2019s most experienced EHR users see the future of VA healthcare"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"tni-source-date\"><strong>Originally published:<\/strong> 2026-10-07T18:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The transition to the <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/?s=Federal+Electronic+Health+Record\">Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR)<\/a> at the Dayton VA Medical Center (VAMC) is more than a technical upgrade, it\u2019s a moment shaped by the people who have dedicated their careers to advancing Veteran care. Among them are three leaders whose combined experience, warmth and unwavering commitment shine through every conversation: Marna McCrary, health promotion\/disease prevention program manager; Tronica Wheeler, chief of quality &amp; patient safety; and Linda Borns, nurse manager.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their insight comes at a pivotal moment as VA accelerates deployment of the Federal EHR, a modern, interoperable medical record system that unites Veterans\u2019 health information across VA, the Department of War and community partners. Unlike the legacy systems that operated facility by facility, the Federal EHR creates nationwide standardization, improves data sharing, and streamlines workflows to enhance safety and continuity of care\u2014all changes these leaders are helping bring to life at the Dayton VAMC.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From paper charts to CPRS: Remembering the early days<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The three registered nurses, who have dedicated their entire careers to the Dayton VAMC and together have 94 years of experience, recalled their first experiences with the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS)\u2014the long-standing system used by VA. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Transitioning from paper to computer-based charting wasn\u2019t simply an upgrade; it transformed the rhythm of clinical work. Wheeler recalled, \u201cJust the mere charting in a computer after years of handwriting\u2014that was huge.\u201d She laughed, remembering the days when staff waited in line for physical charts: \u201cYou were fighting to get your chart so you could finish your documentation on time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Borns agreed, noting how chaotic paper documentation could be, \u201c\u2026back then, if you dropped a chart, papers went everywhere. You had to reorganize it\u2026 and sometimes decipher the providers\u2019 handwriting.\u201d The team still jokes about the color-coded chart folders, the \u201cdial\u201d indicating whether a record needed attention, and the arguments over who got to grab the next available chart. \u201cWe welcomed electronic charting,\u201d Borns added. \u201cReally, we were ready.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McCrary\u2019s memory begins in a computer lab. \u201cI remember a room on the ninth floor with computers everywhere. Someone said, \u2018Click here, open this,\u2019 and we learned step by step.\u201d She laughed at how \u201cclick happy\u201d she was, eager to explore the new system.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Welcoming change with experience and optimism<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time, CPRS was easier to adopt; however, the Federal EHR brings a different level of complexity and promise. \u201cWe\u2019re going from facility standardization to national standardization,\u201d Wheeler explained. \u201cWorkflows now must be consistent everywhere. It\u2019s more structured, and that\u2019s challenging, but it\u2019s also necessary for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even so, all three leaders see the benefits. McCrary pointed to providers who say the system allows them to prepare notes more easily and spend more time with Veterans. Wheeler highlighted improvements in medication reconciliation and immunization records, noting that the ability to pull information from outside facilities will streamline care and enhance safety.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Looking ahead with confidence<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked for advice for other VA sites preparing to go live, the team spoke with clarity. \u201cBe proactive and reach out to counterparts,\u201d McCrary said. \u201cAsk what their workflows look like. Sometimes terminology gets confusing, so learning from others really helps.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wheeler emphasized the importance of understanding why processes must change. \u201cChange is hard,\u201d she said. \u201cBut it\u2019s for the betterment of our Veterans. We have to slow down, embrace it and trust the process.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Borns concluded with what mattered most to her: the people. \u201cI\u2019m so proud of our front-line staff,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re supporting each other, taking care of each other, answering each other\u2019s questions. They\u2019re doing it for the right reason: keeping Veterans safe and well cared for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the obstacles, all three leaders are optimistic because of their experience and VA\u2019s mission. McCrary shared, \u201cAny challenge thrown at us, we jump in with two feet. At the end of the day, we\u2019re here for the mission of taking care of Veterans\u2026 Six months from now, we\u2019ll probably be the ones helping another facility get through it.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Such is our long and proud legacy of improving care for our nation\u2019s Veterans.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p class=\"tni-attribution\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/150000\/daytons-most-experienced-ehr-users-see-the-future-of-va-healthcare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dayton VAMC\u2019s move to the Federal EHR marks a major milestone. Long-serving leaders reflect on the shift from paper to CPRS to today\u2019s system and its impact on Veteran care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":91,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Dayton\u2019s most experienced EHR users see the future of VA healthcare - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dayton VAMC\u2019s move to the Federal EHR marks a major milestone. 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