Department of Veteran Affairs

vet_affairs

Department of Veteran Affairs

SBG provided support to the VA’s Office of Information and Technology (OI&T), Office of Enterprise Development (OED) for the acquisition of a COTS medical scheduling application. SBG developed technical requirements, conducted software evaluations, created and managed the Integrated Master Schedule in the VA’s Primavera TeamPlay Server, performed Earned Value Management, handled IPT communication and coordination, constructed Work Breakdown Structures, created project reports, drafted the QA plan, and conducted QA audits, among other responsibilities.

SBG provides Tiers II and III help desk analysts in support of the VA’s OI&T’s Enhance Veteran Experience and Access to Healthcare (EVEAH) initiative. The BMS application is a web-based VistA interface that tracks patient movement and bed status. SBG personnel provide application-level help desk support, troubleshooting, database management, quality assurance, ColdFusion programming, and code maintenance. SBG also installs and maintains application patches and updates, and provides monthly performance reports.

SBG is developing a developer’s toolkit to be used for the creation of new mobile applications to make data more immediately available to patients, caregivers and providers. SBG is developing a visual framework that converts existing visual designs into functioning computer code to execute locally in any modern web browser. This visual framework will take the human-unreadable XML cCDA Blue Button file and render it into a usable human-readable Blue Button display. By creating this framework, the future design and development of applications becomes more efficient and cost effective.
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SBG is building a Blue Button development center to serve as a hub for developers to learn how to use this service/product in applications and also to provide help and advice. The center will contain articles, code samples, sample projects, downloadable software Developer Toolkit (SDK), along with tutorials – all in an easy to navigate website. The final objective is to release this code into open source for the developer community to adopt more broadly to help serve Veterans and other patients, both within and outside the VHA system.  This will also allow collaboration on future iterations and improve the level of quality of Blue Button health data display across the industry.

SBG has been contracted by VA Office of Information Technology (OIT), Office of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) to design, develop and implement an Enterprise Risk Registry (ERR) system supporting the risk management needs and practices of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The ERR system establishes a central risk repository for storage and manipulation of critical risk information. The system is capable of advanced data mining, executive dashboard support, custom reporting, integration with other data systems, tracking of event-driven workflows, and regression analysis.
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SBG provides the following services:

  • Conduct fact-finding measures to ascertain the requirements for the ERM risk registry software
  • Design database for storage of enterprise risk information. Create logical and physical database design documentation
  • Develop MS SQL 2012 database
  • Define and build normalized risk management databases in accordance with the VA Technical Reference Module
  • Design and produce a database schema document using formal language and graphics
  • Develop a web interface compatible with Microsoft. Net Framework Version 4.0 Technology in conjunction with SQL application development
  • Construct web interface to include user dashboard to create, execute, and store predefined and custom reports and queries.
  • Write end-to-end test scripts
  • Perform functional and 508 compliance testing for all web and database software
  • Provide System Implementation Guide including installation folder, server provisioning, database installation, database setup, web page and application deployment, and user acceptance test plan
  • Design and develop user training materials for multiple user levels
  • Conduct virtual training for system administrators and general and advance users

SBG provides support over a wide range of areas for the Office of Product Development in the Office of Information and Technology, covering the integration efforts of Enterprise Mobile Applications (EMA), the MyHealtheVet portal, and 21st Century Medical Scheduling (21CMS). SBG’s core capabilities of meticulous program management and technical excellence have had a substantial impact on the VA’s mobile application environment.
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SBG provides the following services:

  • Create and maintain a mobile application inventory tracking all mobile applications in planning or development
  • Asses readiness of mobile applications per certification requirements
  • Construct white papers, reports and correspondence on Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) and Deployment with certification officials
  • Identify and report integration issues
  • Prepare and implement recommendations for the certification process of enterprise mobile applications
  • Improve compliance and reduce delays by creating and implementing compliance checklists
  • Lead planning and execution of VA’s appointment scheduling application
  • Deliver bi-weekly reports with metrics, current activities, schedule progress, risks, costs, and function points on the VA SharePoint site
  • Streamline acquisition activities between and among EMA projects
  • Conduct routine privacy and security compliance reviews

The MyHealtheVet (MHV) portal serves over 1,000,000 Veterans, ensuring they or their representatives have access to required information and services. Accordingly, the MHV portal must be continuously available.
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When confronted with major system instability, a Tiger Team of experts was assembled, with the lead integrator from SBG at the helm.
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SBG was charged with implementing the infrastructure changes necessary to achieve resolution of previously reported bugs and discrepancies in order to eliminate database instabilities. SBG effectively coordinated the developers, testers, database experts, vendor support staff from Oracle Corporation, and data-center support personnel to achieve an unparalleled improvement in the performance of MHV. The result was an increase in the site’s ability to support simultaneous users – from 384 to 4,000, more than a 10-fold improvement. The system has since maintained stability.

SBG can rapidly and efficiently provide highly specialized IT engineering consulting services. SBG provided communications, consulting and systems engineering support services to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Through its extensive VistA/IV&V experience, proven record of customer-focused service, and the depth of its technical and management expertise, SBG successfully completed the Replacement Schedule Application Analysis of Alternatives (RSA AoA) project by providing the AoA Study Team with the support it needed to develop sound recommendations for a practical approach to giving veterans greater access to outpatient services. The SBG Team developed a comprehensive RSA AoA Study Plan that provided a road map for conducting a thorough analysis of acquisition alternatives for the RSA. SBG also developed assessment criteria and risk definitions, and conducted dry runs of expert panels and preliminary briefings that were crucial for successful implementation of the AoA.

SBG supported the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Information and Technology (OI&T), Office of Enterprise Development (OED) by providing the resources necessary in the pursuit of the organization’s Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) vision. SBG provided professional technical analysis, evaluation and consultation services in support of a variety of critical Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) functions. Such services included establishing a unified approach to SE&I across the VA, managing technological change organizationally among stakeholders and organizations, developing and maintaining reliable baselines and measurements, and applying new technologies/development methodologies such as Agile Development practices, to reduce risk, improve quality and accelerate deployment cycles. SBG efficiently provided a quality cost-effective solution by employing a plan that encompassed quality control and risk mitigations. The team’s quality management approach ensured that the products or services provided met customer needs and requirements.

SBG provided support to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Surgical Quality Workflow Management (SQWM) System development project. As part of VA’s Enhance the Veteran Experience and Access to Healthcare (EVEAH) initiative, SQWM is being transformed from a Class III product in place at a few Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) into a Class I application. The VA awarded a $54.9M five-year contract to integrate GE’s Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) product, the first time the VA has used a COTS solution for a clinical information system that is utilized enterprise-wide. This system improvement reduced surgery wait times and cancellations, increased patient throughput, and improved the overall surgical experience for Veterans and their families. For VA facilities, the SQWM program improved end-to-end workflow for medical staff, automated many clinical and surgical tasks, and helped communicate up-to-date information to the patient and family members during the surgery cycle. To accomplish this, SBG has joined the Harris Corporation team to lend technical skills and familiarity with the VA’s Office of Enterprise Development (OED) projects while the SQWM solution is installed and operated in 21 VISNs and all 130 hospitals performing surgery. The effort relied on our ability to work with GE and the VA to make the necessary changes to the COTS solution that allowed VA’s disparate surgical systems to interface seamlessly, while meeting VA’s stringent privacy and security requirements. The system was also engineered to be adaptable for future software upgrades and enhancements, and tested to ensure that it can support the VA’s uniquely immense caseload (numbering approximately 400,000 each year).

SBG provided strategic communications, program and project management support to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Information and Technology (OI&T). SBG established a communications road map for the VA through the creation of a communications matrix, which detailed core messages, organizational communications, strategies and tactics across the enterprise. Our team played an essential role in forging a new communications support network for the Software Engineering and Integration (SE&I) Program and five Portfolio Management Offices. SBG created communications plans and conducted technical requirements analyses, product assessments, web design, web development, management support and web 2.0 initiatives. SBG incorporated VA software tools, appropriate IV&V procedures, configuration control, organization of communications products and VHIT information to reinforce and promote the use of related technologies within VHIT.

SBG Technology Solutions supported the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s Medical Appointment Scheduling System (MASS) Program, providing cost estimation services and acquisition support. SBG supported VA MASS Program Management Office (PMO) in providing the capability to electronically plan and manage schedule appointing across VA’s many health care facilities. SBG’s support included cost modeling and analysis, requirements definition and schedule, financial, quality, change and risk management. SBG’s acquisition support team worked with VA to develop the Business Requirements Document (BRD) and Requirements Specification Document (RSD), as well as a Cost Estimation Model to support the development of an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE).

SBF was awarded a five-year IDIQ contract vehicle with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Emergency Management (OEM). SBG and its team of subject matter experts and instructional system designers have designed and developed multiple courses for OEM including the Emergency Management Capability Assessment Program and Emergency Management Competency Program courses.
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SBG’s instructional design team and subject matter experts work with OEM to define learning outcomes, delivery methods and objectives for each course. The team then develops the course content to specification and ensures the material and course design are conducive to the required delivery method. SBG develops course, instructor and student guides, among other materials.

SBG serves as the Program Management Office Support (PMOS) contractor for the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) Evolution Program, the VA’s multi-year initiative to modernize VistA, its enterprise-wide information system for Electronic Health Records. VistA consists of nearly 160 integrated software modules for clinical care, financial functions, and infrastructure.
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As the VA’s trusted advisor on this critical modernization effort, SBG performs a wide array of technical and clinical support services from requirements development, system and solution architecture, system engineering, the establishment of key performance indicators, change management, clinical terminology standards definition, configuration management, training, and communications. The VistA Evolution program is comprised of a series of acquisition initiatives totaling over $2B. As the PMO support contractor, SBG is responsible for assisting the PMO in executing the full acquisition life-cycle from strategic planning, through requirements definition, technical evaluation, and then project monitoring and evaluation.

SBG Technology Solutions, in partnership with Reingold, Inc., and the District Communications Group, is assisting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the implementation of VA Pulse, a collaborative online community for VA employees that connects people and ideas across VA. VA Pulse is designed to help VA employees find information, connect with colleagues to solve problems, share best practices, and streamline workflow. VA Pulse helps Veterans by encouraging unity across service lines, disparate geographies, and administrations.
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VHA’s Office of Strategic Integration has been charged by Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary for Health to ensure universal access to VA Pulse for all 300,000+ VA staff over the next five years, including Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, and National Cemetery Administration. In support of this objective, SBG is providing healthcare marketing strategy, end-user outreach, and information systems support to the VA Pulse team.
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SBG is primarily responsible for leading the migration of Pulse from its current hosting environment to a new, FISMA compliant, hosting provider, as well as integrating the application with VA’s network. SBG personnel are working with VA and external vendors to implement a streamlined user authentication process and integrate desktop plugins across VA enterprise.

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