Regarding the Dec. 8 news article “Staff flag dangerous errors in VA records”:
The Post’s motto is “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” so I was disappointed when its recent story on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ electronic health record modernization (EHRM) effort left its readers completely in the dark.
Here are the facts: The EHR system we’re about to deploy to 13 sites is in much better shape now than it was under the Biden administration, which allowed the initiative to sit nearly dormant for almost two years. On our watch, the EHR will create a single medical record for all veterans, meaning less time sifting through a patchwork of records and running duplicative tests, and more time working directly with veterans.
Today’s system is more reliable than ever. As of September, our EHR had a 96.68 percent incident-free rate over the prior 18 months, higher than the 95 percent target rate.
For 35 months and counting, VA has seen a significant drop in user interruptions while using the system, and most users now experience none on a daily basis.
VA staff satisfaction with the new system has doubled since 2024, and veteran outpatient trust scores have increased at all sites where we deployed the new EHR.
From where we sit, it looks like The Post would rather keep its readers in the dark about the progress we’ve made, a far cry from its motto. So, here’s the real story The Post didn’t write: VA’s EHR modernization effort is well on its way to improving the lives of millions of veterans across the country.
Douglas A. Collins, Washington
The writer is secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Champion all who serve
Thirty-six years ago Friday, hundreds of shivering 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers from North Carolina lined up in an ice storm to board multiple C-141 aircraft. They were to jump with their parachutes into Omar Torrijos International Airport in Panama for Operation Just Cause.
I was the 1st Brigade’s chief intelligence officer. Enemy gunfire forced the paratroopers to land in the jungle just outside the airfield. Together, we overcame the initial chaos and hacked our way to the airfield to start our unique missions. Radios crackled with instructions and warnings of danger. Yet, it was a gut punch to all of us to hear a young commander’s voice on the radio regarding one of our own who had been shot: “I don’t think he’s gonna make it.” He did not.
He died supporting his buddies and teammates. He died fulfilling his mission. He died fulfilling his oath to our Constitution. He died supporting his brand-new country, our United States of America. He was Specialist Alejandro Manriquelozano, a 30-year-old Peruvian immigrant who had lived in the United States for five years.
Thirty-six years later, the Trump administration, including the defense secretary, has pursued purging diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the military. Their actions suggest that people like Manriquelozano weaken our defenses and our America. They are wrong.
We should welcome and celebrate people willing to join and strengthen our country, especially those willing to serve in or alongside our armed forces.
Rick Coplen, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Chinese Foreign Ministry: Jimmy Lai case was strong
The Dec. 16 editorial “Jimmy Lai and the end of Hong Kong” conveniently left out the core plot of “colluding with external forces” of the Jimmy Lai case.
The full story includes 156 days of open hearings, the testimonies of 14 prosecution witnesses, 2,220 pieces of evidence, more than 80,000 pages of documents and the court’s 855-page verdict, and all along the presence of both domestic and international observers, including representatives from the media and consulates in Hong Kong.
When someone cloaks himself in the guise of press freedom while pleading with foreign politicians to impose sanctions on his own country and even declares he is “fighting for America,” this no longer fits any job description in the respectable profession of journalism. To be clear, acts that undermine national security are most likely criminal.
Let this be the final word: When freedom is abused as a dagger, the law must be upheld as a shield. This principle holds true everywhere.
Huang Jingrui, Hong Kong
The writer is spokesperson of the Commissioner’s Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The best gift
Looking for a thoughtful last-minute gift idea?
Here is what you do: Think of the person you love. Write them a letter headlined “A gift I cannot buy.”
Write: “I want you to know what you mean to me.” Share your feelings, fears and dreams. Write with honesty, humor and hope. Be kind.
Then deliver the letter. This makes for a perfect holiday gift. It is one that you cannot buy and one that hopefully will be returned to you.
And writing it might also be the best gift you can give yourself this year.
Stephen R. Sroka, Lakewood, Ohio
Post Opinions wants to know: Have you ever gotten an opportunity to set the record straight? Tell us what happened, and your response might be published in the letters to the editor section. wapo.st/record
The post Secretary of Veterans Affairs: The real progress we’ve made appeared first on Washington Post.
