Because of the nature of privacy rights, getting even one’s own medical records can sometimes be a chore. The Veterans Affairs department is looking to change that. In 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs created a blue button to let veterans download parts of their medical records from a secure web site. The Blue Button program helps patient engagement and supports more patient-centered care.
Craigslist founder Craig Newmark is “Entrepreneur-in-Residence” at the Veterans Affairs Center for Innovation. Newmark’s job at VA includes blogging, recognizing and consulting on issues surrounding health records for veterans.
Newmark was a speaker at Nextgov Prime 2013 in November. At the event, Nextgov correspondent Joseph Marks spoke to Newmark about his work at the VA, lessons learned in serving veterans and the HealthCare.gov situation.
