Modernization

VA secretary presses Congress on funding for modernization

Robert McDonald said his agency can be modernized but not without the help of Congress.

Cybersecurity

VA taps UL for medical device cybersecurity

Testing and science firm UL will help the VA with a plan to protect connected medical IT from cyberattacks.

Cybersecurity

VA's CISO moves on

Brian Burns will be leaving the Department of Veterans Affairs on June 10 for a different federal agency.

Digital Government

IT subcommittee seeks GAO probe on VistA upgrade

A pair of IT leaders on Capitol Hill are seeking a GAO probe of efforts to modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs homegrown health record system VistA.

People

LaVerne Council drills in on her to-do list

The VA CIO sat down with FCW to discuss her agency’s reform efforts, new initiatives and relationship with Congress.

Digital Government

VA edges closer to rollout of new health record platform

The Department of Veterans Affairs is set to launch its new, modular, web-based electronic health record viewer this summer.

Modernization

Watchdog: VA benefits system lacks accurate audit logs

An Inspector General report revealed that Veterans Benefits Management System cannot effectively respond to security violations because of deficient audit logs.

People

Senate VA bill looks to change agency culture, accelerate termination for cause

A new bill would make it easier for the VA secretary to fire executives and rank-and-file employees.

Digital Government

Senate confirms VA watchdog

Attorney Michael Missal will join the Department of Veterans Affairs as inspector general. The agency had spent more than two years without a Senate-confirmed watchdog before Missal got the nod from the U.S. Senate on April 19.

Modernization

House panel rips VA leadership on scheduling software pause

VA officials were grilled by lawmakers on a pause in the acquisition of a scheduling system and a possible rethink of the agency's homegrown electronic health record.

Digital Government

House, Senate committees back $4.2B for IT at VA

House and Senate appropriations panels approved funding measures that essentially match administration requests for the Office of Information and Technology at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Modernization

VA plans major cloud procurement for FY16

With a handful of questions to industry, the Department of Veterans Affairs signaled a big move to the cloud as part of its "buy first" initiative.

Digital Government

House appropriators look for clarity on VistA modernization

Lawmakers are seeking more information from the Department of Veterans Affairs on the future of its electronic health record system.

Digital Government

VA CIO 'excited' about FITARA implementation progress

LaVerne Council tells legislators the Department of Veterans Affairs could become "the premier governmental agency of FITARA."

Digital Government

House panel presses VA CIO about info security

LaVerne Council, the top tech official at the Department of Veterans Affairs, updated lawmakers on cyber challenges facing the agency.

People

The OI&T transformation at VA

LaVerne H. Council, the top tech official at the Department of Veterans Affairs, explains how the Office of Information and Technology is modernizing culture, processes and capabilities to create a a world-class, customer-focused and veteran-centered service organization.

Cybersecurity

Senator wants VA to stop using SSNs

After a data leak involving Veteran information, a Wisconsin senator wants the agency to stop using Social Security numbers as identifiers.

Acquisition

VA makes awards in $22B IT contract

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced 21 contract awards on its Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation acquisition program.

People

CISO announces IT leadership shifts at VA

The Office of Information and Technology at the Department of Veterans' Affairs is undergoing a series of leadership changes, according to a March 7 memo obtained by FCW.