United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2002-03-13 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:GAO-02-369T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-369T P0b002ee1803905eb f:d02369t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-369T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-369T GAO-02-369T Information resources management Information systems Information technology Performance measures DOD/IHS/VA Government Computer-Based Patient Record Project Testimony A02891 The information technology (IT) program helps the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) effectively serve veterans. However, there are challenges in VA's management of IT. VA has laid the groundwork for an integrated, departmentwide enterprise architecture--a blueprint for evolving its information systems and developing new systems to optimize their mission value. Crucial executive support has been established and the department has a strategy to define products and processes critical to its development. VA is currently recruiting a chief architect to assist in implementing and managing the enterprise architecture. VA has taken steps to strengthen its department-level program in information security management, including mandating information security performance standards and, greater management accountability for senior executives. It has also updated security policies, procedures, and standards to implement critical security measures. However, VA continues to report pervasive and serious information security weaknesses. The Veterans Benefits Administration is still far from a modernized system to replace its aging benefits delivery network. The Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) has made good progress in expanding the use of its decision support system (DSS) for clinical and financial decision making. The use of DSS data for the fiscal year 2002 resource allocation process, and a requirement that veteran integrated service network directors better account for their use of this system, have raised awareness of, and promoted its use among VHA facilities. Lastly, VA has made limited progress in its efforts to share data with the Department of Defense and Indian Health Service as part of a computer-based patient record initiative. Implementation strategies continue to be revised, the scope of the initiative has been substantially narrowed, and it continues to operate without clear lines of authority or comprehensive, coordinated plans. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-369T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-369T.htm GAO-02-369T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-369T Testimony GAO-02-369T; VA Information Technology: Progress Made, but Continued Management Attention Is Key to Achieving Results; Information resources management Information systems Information technology Performance measures DOD/IHS/VA Government Computer-Based Patient Record Project Public Law 106-398