[{"innerBlocks":[],"name":"core\/freeform","postId":891,"blockType":{"name":"core\/freeform","keywords":[],"attributes":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"providesContext":[],"usesContext":[],"selectors":[],"supports":{"className":false,"customClassName":false,"reusable":false},"styles":[],"variations":[],"apiVersion":3,"title":"Classic","description":"Use the classic WordPress editor.","category":"text"},"originalContent":"Efforts to implement an information technology system that fully supports services for family caregivers of post-9\/11 veterans continue to be mired in problems.

That\u2019s the contention of members of Congress and a Government Accountability Office official who testified on Wednesday before a joint House subcommittee hearing.

\u201cCaregivers are the most important component of rehabilitation and maintenance for our veterans with severe injuries and their welfare directly impacts the quality of care,\u201d said Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), chair of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Subcommittee on Health. \u201cGiven the unique nature of the Family Caregiver Program and the larger than anticipated demand, VA has encountered several complications including staff shortages, unclear procedures and\u2014the reason for today\u2019s hearing\u2014an antiquated IT system.\u201d

In 2011, the Veterans Health Administration created the Family Caregiver Program at each of its VA medical centers nationwide and implemented an IT system\u2014called the Caregiver Application Tracker (CAT)\u2014designed to facilitate the exchange of information about approved caregivers between VAMCs and other VHA entities. However, problems with CAT and a replacement system persist.

\u201cIn the case of the Family Caregiver Program, we have one system that was too small for the program, a failed effort to rescue that system, and the complete scrapping of another system\u2014after it was developed, accepted, and paid for by the VA\u2014due to problems with user acceptance testing,\u201d observed Susie Lee (D-Nev.), chair of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization.

\u201cNow, we embark on the fourth effort to build an application with an uncertain timeline and uncertain deliverables,\u201d added Lee, referring to the Caregiver Record Management Application (CARMA), which is being developed on a Salesforce platform and is intended to replace CAT.

Carol Harris, GAO\u2019s director of IT management, told the House subcommittees that the \u201cVA\u2019s efforts to implement a fully capable system have been ongoing for at least four years and there\u2019s no end in sight.\u201d

While the MISSION Act of 2018 directed the VA to implement an IT system to fully support the Family Caregiver Program by Oct. 1, 2018, the agency failed to meet this deadline.

\u201cThe Family Caregiver Program relies on an IT system\u2014and, that system is on the rocks,\u201d remarked Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. \u201cIn fact, it isn\u2019t one system but a confusing succession of four.\u201d

Also See<\/b>: Lawmakers voice concerns about VA\u2019s plans for Cerner EHR<\/a>

Steven Lieberman, VHA\u2019s acting principal deputy under secretary for health, acknowledged in his testimony that the agency has faced significant technology challenges.

\u201cTo better meet the program\u2019s needs, the VA Office of Information Technology and VHA executed a strategic pivot away from a custom developed system to adopt an industry-leading, commercial off-the-shelf platform suited for these needs which can be configured to meet the specific requirements,\u201d Lieberman testified. \u201cAdditionally, VA has shifted from its prior approach of seeking to deliver all desired functionality in one big release to an approach grounded in agile development\u2014best practices for software development in widespread use across the private and public sectors.\u201d

Lieberman told lawmakers that first release of CARMA is slated for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2020.

\u201cIt will replace much of the CAT functionality as it currently exists and feature increased data integrity, to allow for improved oversight at the medical center level,\u201d according to Lieberman\u2019s testimony. \u201cThe second release of CARMA, anticipated in January 2020\u2014exact date to be determined\u2014will automate the processing of stipend payments to caregivers.\u201d

In addition, Lieberman noted that subsequent releases \u201cwill modify systems with which CARMA will interface\u201d such as the Computerized Patient Record System, Enrollment and Eligibility System, and Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture.","saveContent":"Efforts to implement an information technology system that fully supports services for family caregivers of post-9\/11 veterans continue to be mired in problems.

That\u2019s the contention of members of Congress and a Government Accountability Office official who testified on Wednesday before a joint House subcommittee hearing.

\u201cCaregivers are the most important component of rehabilitation and maintenance for our veterans with severe injuries and their welfare directly impacts the quality of care,\u201d said Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), chair of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Subcommittee on Health. \u201cGiven the unique nature of the Family Caregiver Program and the larger than anticipated demand, VA has encountered several complications including staff shortages, unclear procedures and\u2014the reason for today\u2019s hearing\u2014an antiquated IT system.\u201d

In 2011, the Veterans Health Administration created the Family Caregiver Program at each of its VA medical centers nationwide and implemented an IT system\u2014called the Caregiver Application Tracker (CAT)\u2014designed to facilitate the exchange of information about approved caregivers between VAMCs and other VHA entities. However, problems with CAT and a replacement system persist.

\u201cIn the case of the Family Caregiver Program, we have one system that was too small for the program, a failed effort to rescue that system, and the complete scrapping of another system\u2014after it was developed, accepted, and paid for by the VA\u2014due to problems with user acceptance testing,\u201d observed Susie Lee (D-Nev.), chair of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization.

\u201cNow, we embark on the fourth effort to build an application with an uncertain timeline and uncertain deliverables,\u201d added Lee, referring to the Caregiver Record Management Application (CARMA), which is being developed on a Salesforce platform and is intended to replace CAT.

Carol Harris, GAO\u2019s director of IT management, told the House subcommittees that the \u201cVA\u2019s efforts to implement a fully capable system have been ongoing for at least four years and there\u2019s no end in sight.\u201d

While the MISSION Act of 2018 directed the VA to implement an IT system to fully support the Family Caregiver Program by Oct. 1, 2018, the agency failed to meet this deadline.

\u201cThe Family Caregiver Program relies on an IT system\u2014and, that system is on the rocks,\u201d remarked Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. \u201cIn fact, it isn\u2019t one system but a confusing succession of four.\u201d

Also See<\/b>: Lawmakers voice concerns about VA\u2019s plans for Cerner EHR<\/a>

Steven Lieberman, VHA\u2019s acting principal deputy under secretary for health, acknowledged in his testimony that the agency has faced significant technology challenges.

\u201cTo better meet the program\u2019s needs, the VA Office of Information Technology and VHA executed a strategic pivot away from a custom developed system to adopt an industry-leading, commercial off-the-shelf platform suited for these needs which can be configured to meet the specific requirements,\u201d Lieberman testified. \u201cAdditionally, VA has shifted from its prior approach of seeking to deliver all desired functionality in one big release to an approach grounded in agile development\u2014best practices for software development in widespread use across the private and public sectors.\u201d

Lieberman told lawmakers that first release of CARMA is slated for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2020.

\u201cIt will replace much of the CAT functionality as it currently exists and feature increased data integrity, to allow for improved oversight at the medical center level,\u201d according to Lieberman\u2019s testimony. \u201cThe second release of CARMA, anticipated in January 2020\u2014exact date to be determined\u2014will automate the processing of stipend payments to caregivers.\u201d

In addition, Lieberman noted that subsequent releases \u201cwill modify systems with which CARMA will interface\u201d such as the Computerized Patient Record System, Enrollment and Eligibility System, and Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture.","order":0,"get_parent":{},"attributes":[],"attributesType":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"dynamicContent":""}]

VA’s IT system for Family Caregiver Program remains troubled

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