Veterans Affairs health centers have been asked to explain how it permitted software glitches affect the medical care of its patients at its health centers. The explanation was sought by the top Republican on the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

The software glitches that began in August and continued till December, showed faulty displays of electronic health records. There was also mix up of the data at some centers.

The centers did not disclose the mistakes to the patients even though they sometimes involved prolonged infusions of drugs.

The VA's recent glitches messed up medical data — vital signs, lab results, active meds — that sometimes popped up under another patient's name on the computer screen. In some instances the electronic records could not display a doctor's stop order for a treatment clearly. Thus the patients were given unnecessary doses of intravenous drugs such as blood-thinning heparin.

It is argued that the goal of electronic medical records nationwide is to help avert millions of medical mistakes that can be committed due to paper systems, such as poorly written prescriptions. However, the present scenario demanded a revamp of the electronic system as well. The health care experts say the VA's problems illustrate the need for close monitoring.