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Gateway to VHA Organizations The Office of the Under Secretary for Health provides oversight of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest integrated health care provider in the nation. In addition to the oversight responsibilities regarding VHA’s field facilities and the 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) that manage their activities, the Office exercises oversight of VHA program responsibilities headquartered in VA Central Office.
The office advises the VHA on policy matters relating to academic affiliations and education of the health workforce to ensure that the education programs contribute to the mission of serving the needs of America's veterans.
FM's mission is to function as a unified, service-oriented organization delivering high quality, cost-effective facilities in support of our nation's veterans. Its site contains information on construction, architect/engineer projects, consulting, design and construction standards, real property, environmental management, and claims and risk management.
The Finance staff deals with policy and operational issues relating to budget formulation and execution for all VHA programs, financial management, financial analyses, collections and revenue, and evaluation, analysis, and review of resource-related processes and initiatives.
The Office of Information manages information resources planning, policy, software development, customer support, technical assessments, and acquisitions that support the VHA. The systems under its purview include the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VISTA), Decision Support System (DSS), telecommunications, national data registries, and library, audiovisual, and satellite TV programs.
The Office of Patient Care Services houses VHA’s clinically-related programs that serve to support the actual delivery of patient care services in the field. It integrates professional knowledge and practice skills into policy, planning, and system-wide development of patient care guidelines, critical pathways, and practice parameters. The traditional “stovepipe” structure organized around discrete professions and disciplines is replaced with a structure organized around thirteen substantive, cross-functional strategic health care groups
The VHA Office of the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health (ADUSH) supports the offices of the Under Secretary for Health and Deputy Under Secretary for Health as an advisor on the development, implementation, and impact of VHA policy, strategic planning, and knowledge/data management ("Turning Information Into Insight"). The Office is comprised of four central offices and two field-based groups. All six office components coordinate various aspects of VHA's national policy development and strategic planning initiatives. The Office of the ADUSH represents VHA's interest and policies in negotiating acceptable agreements in inter-organizational initiatives that affect or influence internal VHA planning, policy, and relationships to budget formulation.
Unified by the concept of public health, i.e., health issues related to population health as well as personal or individual health, this Office concentrates on development of policy, reviews, and analyses of pending legislation; participates at Congressional hearings, interagency committees, etc.; provides technical assistance to the field (both medical centers and VISNs); disseminates clinical protocols; provides medical opinions to assist in adjudicating compensation claims; and develops data bases which assist in the monitoring of the health of veterans.
The ORC oversees war veterans' post-war adjustment, including post traumatic stress disorder, and manages over 200 Vet Centers, which provide readjustment counseling services to combat era veterans.
The Office of Quality and Performance was created to support VHA’s commitment to systematize quality using an evidence-based approach to performance measurement and management. The focus of OQP’s work is always from a patient-centered perspective which is translated into performance outcomes in each of VHA’s 6 for 2006 strategic goals.
The Office of Research and Development aspires to lead the VHA in providing unequaled health care value to veterans. A few of the items on its Web site include research programs, publications and reports, accomplishments, and position postings.
The Office of Research Oversight (ORO) serves as the primary VHA office in advising the Under Secretary for Health on all matters of compliance and assurance regarding human subjects protections, animal welfare, research safety, and research misconduct.
OMI independently investigates health care issues raised by veterans and other stakeholders, conducts surveys, and evaluates programs and system-wide data in order to monitor and improve the quality of care provided by VHA
In order to respond better to the staff of VA, VALU (a product of the One VA initiative) orders, tracks, and creates training to provide the best service possible to our veterans and their families.
The National Center for Patient Safety embodies the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) uncompromising commitment to reducing and preventing adverse medical events while enhancing the care given our patients.
The VCS operates retail stores, food courts, vending banks, and personal service outlets in VA medical centers. The primary focus of the VCS is to provide an unparalleled level of customer service to Veteran patients and their caregivers.
The VA medical system consists of 21 integrated networks of care that are focused on pooling and aligning resources to better meet local health care needs and provide greater access to care.
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Reviewed/Updated: December 18, 2003