Computerizing Large Integrated Health Networks: The VA Success

In this review of Computerizing Large Integrated Health Networks: The VA Success, the bottom line is clear: this book is for readers who want a detailed, practitioner-focused account of how a major public health system implemented an operational hospital information system. The authors document decades of work that began in 1977 at the Department of Veterans Affairs and focus on the delivery and implementation of the Decentralized Hospital Computer System, making it valuable to health informatics professionals seeking real-world lessons rather than theoretical treatments.

Key Features

• Historical scope: Traces computerization efforts beginning in 1977, offering long-term perspective on system evolution and organizational change.
• Project focus: Concentrates on building and implementing the Decentralized Hospital Computer System (DHCP), so readers learn from concrete deployment experience.
• Implementation detail: Emphasizes delivery and practical application, useful for CIOs and informatics managers interested in operational lessons.
• Insider perspective: Written by authors directly involved in the VA effort, providing firsthand insights into challenges and strategies used over many years.
• Professional relevance: Suited to those studying systems analysis and design within large integrated health networks, not introductory overviews.

Who It's For

This book is best for health informatics professionals, hospital IT leaders, systems analysts, and graduate students who want a practitioner-oriented case study of large-scale computerization in a public health system. The detailed focus on the DHCP implementation makes it a useful reference for those planning or managing similar enterprise deployments.

Readers seeking a brief overview, introductory textbook, or a consumer-oriented explanation of health IT trends should look elsewhere; the book is not written as a high-level survey or for casual readers. It assumes interest in implementation history and organizational lessons rather than glossy summaries.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a long-term historical narrative that clarifies how sustained projects evolve over decades.
• Concentrates on the practical challenge of delivering a large hospital information system, giving actionable insights to implementers.
• Offers an insider account from people directly involved, which adds credibility and context to the lessons described.

Cons

• Not aimed at beginners; readers seeking a concise primer on health informatics may find the focus too specialized.

Specifications

Title	Computerizing Large Integrated Health Networks: The VA Success
Authors	Robert M. Kolodner, J.V. Douglas
Subject	Health informatics; hospital information systems
System focused	Decentralized Hospital Computer System (DHCP)
Organizational setting	Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Chronology	Work described began in 1977 and spans multiple decades

Our Verdict

Computerizing Large Integrated Health Networks is a valuable, practitioner-centered account of a sustained national IT effort. IT leaders and health informatics professionals will find concrete implementation lessons and historical context that justify the book as a reference; its focused, delivery-oriented approach makes it good value for those engaged in large system deployments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book focus on theory or practice?
The book emphasizes practical implementation and delivery of the DHCP rather than abstract theory.

Who wrote this account?
The authors, Robert M. Kolodner and J.V. Douglas, were directly involved in the VA computerization effort.

Is this suitable for beginners?
It is best for professionals and students with some background in health IT; it is not a general introductory text.