Is VA the new model for managing IT?

After making headlines for putting 188 projects on the chopping block, VA CIO Roger Baker explains his philosophy behind managing IT contracts.

188 VA projects on the chopping block

The Veterans Affairs Department has extended its program management system to all 280 IT projects and suspended spending on two-thirds of them.

How the VA VistA system is like a fighter jet

Dr. Steve Ondra's metaphor comparing the VA's electronic health record systems to fighter jets took wing at the AFCEA Health IT Day today.

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.

VA-DOD health data exchange may be down for a month

The exchange was stopped because errors were popping up in the data on a regular basis.

Kaiser policies for veteran health records still raising questions

A conflict may exist in Kaiser Permanente's descriptions of its security policies on electronic health records.

Kaiser official defends security practices for veterans health data

Electronic data exchange safer than U.S. Mail, Kaiser official says.

VA CIO Roger Baker gets around

See what he says about IT, marriage, and alligators.

VA pulls plug on failing IT projects

The Veterans Affairs Department terminates its Enrollment System Redesign, Pharmacy Reengineering and 10 other failing information technology projects.

Flat IT budget no problem for VA, CIO says

Roger Baker, the Veterans Affairs Department's CIO, told a House panel today that although the fiscal 2011 budget is flat for information technology, it is enough to fulfill the department's needs.

VA looks for help transforming patient care

In what it describes as a massive transformation, the Veterans Affairs Department is preparing to adopt a relatively new concept called patient-centered care that uses technology to keep patients informed and engaged.

VA freezes IT budget for 2011

The Veterans Affairs Department is looking at a flat level of $3.3 billion for information technology in fiscal 2011, but managed some increases for benefits automation and telemedicine.

Alion to validate software for Veterans Affairs

Alion Science and Technology Corp. will help the Veterans Affairs Department refine its process for software development and implementation under a $4.7 million contract.

SAIC infuses VA blood bank with tech support

Science Applications International Corp. will provide technical support to the Veterans Affairs Department under a five-year award that could be worth as much as $14 million.

VA fails to punish liars, House panel told

Veterans Affairs Department officials failed to punish business owners who lied to them to get a contract set aside for service-disabled veterans.

VA plans wide-ranging IT services contract

The Veterans Affairs Department plans to compete an extensive, multiple-award information technology services contract that would meet the department's software, hardware and engineering needs.

Fake firms rip off SBA set-aside program for $100M

Agencies that award contracts to service-disabled veterans don’t check on whether a company is eligible for the special set-aside and millions are lost, GAO official says.

VA halts 15 technology projects

Of 45 Veterans Affairs' projects halted in July, 15 have been suspended or had funding cuts.

VA and industry join to develop health record strategy

The VA's CIO has asked an industry group to advise the department on whether to deploy the VistA digital health record system more broadly to private hospitals and providers.

Some troubled VA projects face cancellation

Veterans Affairs continues its review of 45 troubled IT projects with some getting a restart while others could be canceled.