Getting access to the VA’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
System
Important
Terms:
- VA: Veteran Affairs
- CPRS: Computer Patient Record
System (name of VA’s EMR, i.e. their version of “OACIS”)
- ISO: Information Security Officer (for Charleston
VA this is 789-7036)
- VA Help Desk: 789-7468 (located in Dublin, GA so identify
yourself as Charleston – VA)
Getting
a Login ID and password to the VA’s CPRS:
- Download the Computer Access
Request form.
- This is a 2-page form, first page for confidentiality & security;
the second for ID and access requirement information.
- Current residents, who rotate at the VA, probably
already have a login ID and password to the CPRS system.
- Fill out forms at take to VA ISO at 109 Bee
Street, Room B535
- ISO hours are 8AM – 5PM Monday – Friday
- If ISO is not present, ask the main desk for
the AOD (Administrative Officer of the Day)
- ID and password will usually be issued when
you turn in your paperwork.
- The first time you log into the system you will
have to change your password.
- Passwords must be 6 to 8 alpha-numeric
characters with one special character like $,#,%, etc.
- Passwords expire every 90 days & you much
choose a new one you have not used before.
- Passwords are Case Sensitive!
- Login IDs will follow this format:
VHA (for Veteran Hospital Affairs) + CHA (Charleston) + first 6 characters
of last name + first letter of first name. For example a CPRS login ID for
Jane Doe might be “VHACHADOEJ”
Accessing
CPRS remotely (i.e. from home or from a ClinLAN workstation):
- http://www.musc.edu/infoservices/va/access.html
and follow the setup directions.
Note:
If you're using a MUSC ClinLAN workstation, you might be prompted to install
Active-X. If you answer YES to the prompt, the installation is almost
immediate and results in no errors.
Problems
with setup:
- Call VA Help Desk at 789-7468
- Be sure to immediately tell them you’re trying
to make a Terminal Server Connection.
