In a recently released report, the Department of Defense inspector general has deemed the DOD's $5 billion electronic health record system project as high-risk due to the hassles involved in integrating commercial software.

In addition to the inspector general's report, risk management reports prepared by the Military Health System Clinical Information Technology Program Office (CITPO) showed that the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA) program office might have understated costs related to commercial integration.

AHLTA is intended for use at some 70 hospitals and 411 clinics currently serving 9.2 million beneficiaries. Full deployment of AHLTA has already been delayed by four years because of problems in 2004 with a patient database and a dental application. The Navy and Air Force to stopped system deployment in 2004 until performance issues were resolved.