The Department of Veterans Affairs https://www.va.gov in collaboration with the FDA, Department of Defense https://www.defense.gov, and CMS https://www.cms.gov, are going to launch the nation’s largest health system medical implant tracking program. The implant registry will enable the VA to monitor the safety of devices used by veterans and their families, track quality metrics, and ensure the best possible care for patients.
The medical device registry will enable the VA to notify patients on safety recalls, identify devices when patients show up for medical emergencies with complications, and track and compare outcomes of implants. The most common medical devices in the veteran population include cardiac implants (valves, pacemakers, and stents), orthopedic implants (hip and knee) and neurosurgical implants.