What is EHRM and What You Can Do to Prepare

Introduction

» VA is deploying a new electronic health record (EHR) called the Federal EHR at all VA medical facilities. The Chillicothe VA will get the Federal EHR in June 2026.

» This system contains your health records, including those from your time in the military, and tracks all your medical care.

» The Federal EHR will standardize the way that your VA health care facility operates and will lead to better care for you and your fellow Veterans.

What Veterans Should Know

» Getting a new EHR is a big change for VA providers and staff. They may need some time to get used to the new system and its processes.

» During summer 2026, when the Chillicothe VA is getting the new EHR, you may notice fewer available appointment times, potential delays with pharmacy and prescription refills, and longer wait times for walk-in services.

» Your VA health care team will rely on Secure Messaging more often during the transition.

» You may notice EHR trainers walking around and helping clinical staff get used to the new system. » You will continue to use My HealtheVet on VA.gov before and after the transition to manage your VA health care in the same place you manage your other VA benefits and services.

» For Veterans who relocate temporarily during the year, the Federal EHR allows Veterans to have two addresses: a residential address (where you reside) and a mailing address (where you want to receive mail from VA, such as prescriptions, letters, or any other correspondence). If you relocate temporarily and want to make sure your prescription medications and VA correspondence reach you, you will need to change your mailing address. Remember to change it back when you return to your permanent residence. There are three ways to change your residential and mailing addresses:

• Change your address on VA.gov or change it on the VA Health and Benefits mobile app
• In person at your VA medical center
• Call the call center at 1-

What Veterans Can Do to Prepare

» Make appointments early. There may be fewer appointments available right before and after the Federal EHR goes live at your local medical facility, so be sure to make your appointments early.

» Use Secure Messaging. If you have a non-urgent, non-emergency question or request for your health care team, try Secure Messaging through My HealtheVet. Use your Login.gov or ID.me account to sign in to My HealtheVet (or create an account for VA.gov if you don’t have one) and look for the Secure Messaging tab.

» Refill and renew prescriptions early. Avoid potential pharmacy delays by making sure you refill and renew your prescriptions ahead of time. Call your local VA medical center) and select the option for pharmacy.

» Update your contact information. Ensure your information, like your name, email, phone number, and address, is up to date in your VA profile. Sign in to your VA profile using your Login.gov or ID.me account to confirm your information is accurate.

· Legal name changes should be reported to your VA facility alongside a copy of your current photo ID. Learn more about how to change your legal name on file with VA.

· If you receive pay from DoD and have changed your legal name, you also need to verify your new name in DoD’s Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). If an update is needed: 

• Learn how to change your name in your DEERS record
• Call the Defense Manpower Data Center support office at 1- (TTY: 1-), Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET.

» Get the latest news and updates. Visit VA’s EHRM website for the latest information on this priority VA program. For local news and updates, check out Chillicothe VA's EHR Modernization webpage, and follow the Chillicothe VA on social media, like Facebook.

Things You May Notice During Our EHR Transition

On June 6th, 2026, the Chillicothe VA Medical Center will transition to the new Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR). This system brings VA, the Department of War, and community health care system medical records together securely and in one place, making it easier for your VA care team to access your health information — without you having to track it down.

Things you may notice

After the launch of the Federal EHR, a few things may be different:

• Appointment summaries and other printed materials will look more modern.
• Care team names in secure messages may look different than before; we’re working to make team names clearer and easier for you to recognize.
• After go-live, prescription numbers on medication bottles or prescription packages that you have from before the transition will be different than they are in the online system. Once you get a new refill, the prescription numbers will match up.
• You’ll see trainers around the facility helping our staff learn the new system.
• You’ll notice new technology around the facility.
• Your appointments may take a little longer as staff are getting used to the new system. Thank you for your patience with us.
• Beginning on Wednesday, May 6th you may start to notice fewer text messages from VEText about your appointments. This is normal and part of the transition to the Federal EHR. As part of this change, some VEText features will be removed, including the ability to use your phone to check in for your appointments. You can always check in for your appointments by visiting the check-in desk.

Need help?

• Learn how to manage your VA health care online.
• If you need help with My HealtheVet on VA.gov, call (TTY: ). We’re here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. If you need help after these hours, call for 24/7 support.
• For the pharmacy, call .
• For appointments, contact your PACT team.

Again, we appreciate your patience during this transition. These changes are designed to improve coordination and continuity of care for you and your fellow Veterans. Thank you for trusting the Chillicothe VA Medical Center with your health care.