Digital Government

VA to open network to popular mobile devices

The Veterans Affairs Department plans to allow employees to use mobile devices on VA networks by Oct. 1, CIO Roger Baker announced.

People

Bill to speed VA disability claims reintroduced

A House lawmaker last week reintroduced a bill aimed at speeding up the disability claims process at the Veterans Affairs Department.

Digital Government

VA picks vendor for open-source ecosystem

The Veterans Affairs Department has selected a small business as the custodial agent for an open-source ecosystem development program to modernize the VA's VistA electronic health record system.

People

IT reform push: Six months later

CIOs offer updates on IT reform progress, challenges and priorities as milestone nears.

People

The VA Acquisition Academy: A model worth building on?

The Veterans Affairs Department sees an opportunity to develop a better acquisition workforce.

People

A funny thing happened on the way to the CIO office ...

Here are four examples of federal IT leaders using humor to deliver important information in a memorable way.

Digital Government

Devil is in the open-source details

The Veterans Affairs and Defense departments have slightly different views about the role of open-source development in their joint electronic health record system, according to the VA's CIO Roger Baker.

Acquisition

GAO: Agencies question usefulness of contract inventories

Some agency officials fear their in-depth inventories of service contracts will turn out to be useful to no one due to funding, manpower shortages.

Digital Government

The best of the federal blogosphere

VA hires a critic; Happy Mother's Day to the planet; America's ready for high-speed rail.

Digital Government

Common VA-DOD health record interface nearing completion

VA and DOD senior officials updated a Senate committee on progress on their joint common electronic health record platform on May 18.

People

VA expects to save $16B by going open source for health records

VA CIO Roger Baker said choosing open source to modernize VA's digital health records system will help the department avoid spending $16 billion on a commercial solution.

People

Veteran takes it to VA -- from the inside

The Veterans Affairs Department has hired veteran and blogger Alex Horton -- one of its most vocal critics -- to critique the agency from the inside.

People

VA CIO describes cloud, Blue Button and EHR programs

A Veterans Affairs Department official outlined some of the department's major IT programs at an industry event.

Digital Government

VA's Baker says VA, DOD digital record systems will morph into joint system

Roger Baker, the Veterans Affairs Department's assistant secretary for information and technology, offered some details about how the VA and Defense Department are going to meld their digital medical record systems.

Modernization

VA, DOD create mobile app for PTSD treatment, support

The Veterans Affairs and Defense departments have released a new mobile application designed to help veterans and service members suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Modernization

VA contracting officers may face penalty for poor recordkeeping

A senior Veterans Affairs Department official plans to propose a penalty for contracting officers if they don't file contracting information into the VA's database.

Acquisition

Costs jumped on VA's Wi-Fi contract, IG says

The Veterans Affairs Department rushed through procuring Wi-Fi at 236 VA facilities, according to a new report from the Office of Inspector General.

Digital Government

VA would keep 97 percent of employees working during shutdown

The Veterans Affairs Department released a contingency plan and field guide today describing what steps will be taken in the event of a government shutdown.

People

VA CIO erred in firing Martinez, judge rules

An administrative judge has reversed a decision by Veterans Affairs Department CIO Roger Baker that removed a VA deputy assistant secretary from her job.

Digital Government

VA, DOD agree on joint platform for e-health records, Shinseki says

The Veterans Affairs and Defense departments have come to an agreement on creating a joint platform for their electronic medical record systems, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki told a Senate subcommittee today.