Digital Government
Vets poorly served by VA call centers, audit finds
Callers to the Veterans Benefits Administration reach an agent and obtain accurate information only 49 percent of the time, an audit says.
Modernization
Bill would create Web portal for veterans' records
Rep. Niki Tsongas has introduced legislation to enable veterans to access their service records electronically through a Web portal.
Acquisition
Is open source the cure for what ails VA's e-records?
An industry group convened by VA CIO Roger Baker is advising that VistA move to an open source platform and phase out MUMPS.
Acquisition
VA exceeds contracting goals for veteran-owned businesses, GAO says
The Veterans Affairs Department surpassed its goals for contracting with companies owned by veterans during the last three years, GAO reports.
People
VA weeds out poorly performing programs
Veterans Affairs CIO Roger Baker drew widespread attention when he suspended 45 underperforming IT projects under the Program Management Accountability System. Baker recently spoke with FCW about PMAS and other issues.
Modernization
VA fiduciary management system is inadequate, GAO says
The Veterans Affairs Department's case management system for overseeing fiduciaries for 103,000 disabled veterans is not up to the job, the GAO says.
People
VA suspends spending on 188 IT projects
The Veterans Affairs Department has extended its program management system to all 280 IT projects and suspended spending on two-thirds of them.
Digital Government
VA health IT study comes with caveat, researcher says
A researcher of a recent study said the Veterans Affairs Department may have saved billions of dollars from using health IT, but the actual savings are not known.
People
VA highlights IT innovation, crowdsourcing in open government plan
Among other initiatives, the VA plans to set up ongoing competition to come up with new ideas for improving the agency's services and operations.
People
VA, DOD to expand virtual EHR program
The Veterans Affairs and Defense departments are expanding demonstration projects of VLER electronic records program, officials said today.
Modernization
Social media likely coming to Vets health portal
Veterans Affairs officials plan to add social-media style tools to the portal veterans use to access health records, a VA officials said today at the 2010 FOSE conference.
Cybersecurity
VA faces major hurdles to comply with FISMA, audit finds
The Veterans Affairs Department has "significant" obstacles to overcome to meet its FISMA compliance goals, a new audit reports.
Digital Government
VA has prototype of Aviva EHR system
The Veterans Affairs Department has taken delivery of a prototype next-generation digital health record system known as Aviva.
Acquisition
VA seeks vendor to automate Agent Orange claims processing
The Veterans Affairs Department wants to hire a contractor by the end of April that can automate processing Agent Orange claims by September.
People
VA to save $37M through cutbacks in replacement scheduling program
The Veterans Affairs Department expects to generate $37 million in savings by cancelling portions of its Replacement Schedulinig Application Development program.
Digital Government
VA and DOD expand health data exchange pilot
The Veterans Affairs and Defense departments are beginning a health data exchange pilot project in Virginia as the next phase of their virtual lifetime electronic record development.
Digital Government
VA may restore access to DOD medical record systems soon
The Veterans Affairs Department is working to fix remaining computer glitches that caused it to restrict electronic access to Defense Department patient medical record systems.
Modernization