Summary: GAO assessed the status of the Department of Defense's (DOD) testing of the Veterans Administration's (VA) Decentralized Hospital Computer Program system at two military hospital test sites.
GAO found that: (1) March Air Force Base Hospital was testing 10 of 12 available software modules; (2) Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center was testing 6 of the 12 modules; (3) the hospitals were not testing all of the software because of functional incompatibility with their operations, incomplete software modifications, inadequate hardware, telecommunications problems, and a lack of critical staff; (4) neither site was testing software capabilities in all applicable wards and clinics; and (5) DOD may have insufficient data upon which to base a sound procurement decision if it stays on its current schedule and deadlines. GAO believes that an extension of the testing schedule would enhance the quantity and quality of data and would provide DOD with a sufficient basis to decide whether the VA system could meet the needs of large military medical facilities.
