A Smarter Way to Support the Transition to Oracle Health Federal EHR 

As the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) modernizes its electronic health record (EHR) systems, DSS is ready to support the transition through VistA-as-a-Service (VaaS), a managed, cloud-based service that maintains and modernizes the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) legacy VistA systems during and after the shift to Oracle Health.

VaaS helps the VA stay focused on clinical innovation while outsourcing the complexity of legacy system maintenance. 

 
 
 
 

  • VaaS is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution designed to: 

    • Host, operate, and maintain all active VistA instances in a cloud infrastructure. 

    • Integrate and manage both VA-owned and third-party legacy applications. 

    • Support interoperability between VistA and Oracle Health’s Millennium system. 

    With all 130+ VistA instances now consolidated into VA’s Enterprise Cloud (as of July 2024), VaaS is the next step in reducing cost, complexity, and disruption across the enterprise.

  • The VA has declared its intention to exit the software development business – an effort VaaS directly supports. Transitioning to VaaS aligns with federal policy, procurement reform, and modernization goals.  

 
 
 
 

Key Benefits of VaaS:

 

1. Technology Modernization 

  • Rapid release cycles – delivered in days, not months. 

  • Modern DevSecOps and CI/CD practices. 

  • Improved interoperability with Oracle Health Millennium. 

  • Scalable, cloud-native architecture. 

2. Cost Optimization 

  • Estimated $500M in annual savings. 

  • Predictable, subscription-based budgeting. 

  • Avoids expensive rewrites of still-needed VistA modules. 

3. Workforce Realignment 

  • Reduces the need for 900+ VA FTEs currently maintaining legacy systems. 

  • Reallocates staff for modernization and Veteran-facing functions. 

  • Establishes a single point of accountability for software maintenance. 

4. Regulatory Alignment 

  • Supports federal mandates to divest non-inherently governmental functions. 

  • Aligns with DoD’s successful MHS GENESIS model. 

  • Enables agile procurement through existing commercial pathways. 

 
 
 

    • Used at every VA Medical Center: Nine (9) DSS applications per site.

    • Owns nearly half of VistA APIs and supports 800+ HL7 protocols.

    • Deep integration with VA systems like FMS, IAM, and Central Fee. 

    • SOC-2, HIPAA, CMMI Level 3, ISO-9001-2015 certified, and FedRAMP High approved. 

    With decades of experience and trusted relationships across VA offices, DSS is uniquely positioned to lead this transition, efficiently and without disruption. 

  • Maintained Components

    • Core VistA packages (e.g., Order Entry/Results Reporting, Prosthetics). 

    • Delphi and web-based user interface applications (e.g., CPRS, BCMA, Vitals). 

    • Integrated test environments for interoperability validation. 

    • Modernized release and documentation infrastructure. 

    Managed Components

    • Integration of third-party applications (site-level and national). 

    • Ongoing collaboration with original developers for continuity of maintenance.

  • To accelerate transition and maximize ROI, DSS recommends that VA:  

    • Develop a phased plan for transitioning VistA maintenance to a managed service model. 

    • Host a Reverse Industry Day to gather input from qualified vendors. 

    • Shift to a subscription-based approach tied to outcomes, not overhead. 

 
 
 
 

VistA continues to support critical care across the VA. With VaaS, the VA can: 

  • Maintain and modernize its legacy systems. 

  • Save taxpayer dollars. 

  • Focus federal staff where they’re needed most, which is on Veterans. 

 
 
 

It’s time to move from maintaining software to keeping the mission. DSS is ready to help lead the way.

 
 

Fill out the form and we’d be happy to connect and schedule a dialogue.

 
 
 

Additional Resources: 

 

Streamlining the Transition to a Well-Maintained and Modernized VA Health Care System with VistA-as-a-Service (VaaS)

Federal News Network: The VA EHR Modernization Roadmap Under the Trump Administration  

DSS FedHealth Forward: Discover all the special ways that DSS is creating for the future of federal health care.