Abstract
In this article, the writer examines Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The writer looks at its impact on the rewards system at the Department of Veteran Affairs.

From the Paper
"The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation that has had reaching impact in making America a more equal place to live and work. Specific to the workplace, Title VII has been key in attempting to make the workplace a non-discriminatory environment. While great strides have been made since the passage of the original bill, there is still significant work to be done even or perhaps especially at the Federal Government ... "

Tags:department of veteran affairs, title vii, equal employment opportunity, equality, women's rights

Abstract
This paper provides an analysis of the Department of Veterans Affairs using the "Fourteen Forces of Magnetism" developed by Bliss-Holtz, Winter, Scherer and Elaine as a guide to assessing whether the organization has structures in place to for recruitment, retention, and support of a qualified workforce and to support the professional practice of nursing. The paper presents an overview of the VA, its location, size and age as well as some unusual history of the organization. A discussion concerning the VA's image is followed by an analysis of its sub-unit configuration. A summary of the research and salient findings concerning whether the VA is in a solid position to recruit, retain, and support a qualified workforce and to support the professional practice of nursing are presented in the conclusion.

From the Paper
"The research showed that today, the Department of Veterans Affairs is the nation's largest healthcare provider and one of the largest healthcare providers in the world. The research also showed that notwithstanding some major constraints to the provision of high-quality healthcare services to the millions of veteran patients the organization has encountered in the past, the VA is well situated to recruit, retain, and support a qualified workforce and to support the professional practice of nursing in the 21st century."

Tags:healthcare, war veterans, organizations nursing

Abstract
The paper discusses the employee review process and the methods for rewarding excellent performance by managers and non-managers at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The paper looks at the opportunities/resources available for employee development and considers how the performance management system enhances the performance of the organization. The paper also identifies several barriers to success but deems them to be far outweighed by the contributions that a well-managed performance management system can provide any organization today.

Outline:
Review and Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (hereinafter "VA" or alternatively, "the Department") has the largest integrated health care system in the nation with 153 hospitals and more than 700 community-based clinics (Peake, 2008). The Department's healthcare budget of more than $36 billion this year is intended to provide care to about 5.5 million U.S. veterans (Peake). In recent years, the Department has experienced unprecedented growth in the medical system workload, with the number of veteran patients being treated increasing by 29 percent from 4.2 million in 2001 to almost five-and-a-half million in 2006 (Facts about the VA, 2007)."

Tags:opportunities, resources, employees, managers

Abstract
This paper explains that information security at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is very important because the VA is the largest administrator of healthcare services and insurance in the United States and provides a wide range of benefits and services for millions of American citizens, which involves extensive e-commerce. The author relates that a security problem in 2006 caused the Department to hire an outside consultation services to evaluate its information security procedures. The paper discusses this decision and describes the outsourcing process.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Analysis of Outsourcing and Information Security Risks.
Costs and Benefits Relating to Outsourcing
Security Functions and Security Considerations when Outsourcing
Outsourcing Processes and Procedures
Conclusion

From the Paper
"In those cases where the decision is made to outsource a given security function, due diligence can be accomplished through the vendor selection process and the request for proposal (RFP); these reviews are essential when assessing the potential scope and impact of an outsourcing arrangement on IT processes, infrastructure and staff, and the probable size of the outsourcing contract. Moreover, crafting such an RFP for outsourcing a VA security-related IT function becomes even more critical than an RFP for other types of vendor arrangements."

Tags:e-commerce, stolen, employees, policy, proprietary

Abstract
This paper describes a survey that will be administered to the staff at a single Vet Center, with the focus being on improving the delivery of health care services to the Center?s veteran patients and to improve the administration of the human resources function. The paper includes an example of the actual survey that was administered.

Introduction
Data Collection
Analysis and Reporting

From the Paper
"Every type of organization has, or should have, as a major goal, the need to optimize the productivity of its human resources (Farr, Schuler & Smith, 1993). One organization that has recently assumed critical importance in the U.S. is the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Today, the VA is responsible for administering an enormous healthcare and benefits network for its active duty and retired service members and their families at U.S. taxpayer expense."

Tags:government-administered, programs, medical, centers, community, outreach, clinics

Abstract
This paper examines how the United States Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) reorganized so that decision-making for the agency was given to 22 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). The paper further addresses how these networks used performance data to allocate sources among one another during budget execution. The paper points out that the VA currently offers several benefits for all veterans such as health care and pharmaceutical services and plans, nevertheless, problems still exist regarding veteran's health care, psychiatric treatment, and medical facility competence and condition.

From the Paper
"In the early 1990s, the United States Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) reorganized so that decision-making for the agency was given to 22 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). These networks used performance data to allocate sources among one another during budget execution (Kamensky & Morales, 2005). The VA currently offers several benefits for all veterans such as health care and pharmaceutical services and plans, educational benefits, compensation and pensions, special home..."

Tags:veterans, programs, benefits

Abstract
This paper provides a background of the problem of elder abuse followed by a review and discussion of the relevant literature. The study uses a retrospective review of adverse patient incident reports in selected Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) and domiciles in the United States. The paper determines what controlling legislation is in place and the associated responsibilities for healthcare practitioners. It notes that the next step involves detecting and substantiating cases of elder abuse when they occur or are suspected of having occurred. The paper further discusses what should be done when abuse has taken place. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion, where it is noted that virtually all sources suggest the rates of elder abuse are on the increase. However, the definitions of elder abuse have been sufficiently codified in recent years that such incidents can be identified and, when appropriate, reported, investigated and actions can be taken to prevent such abuse in the future.

From the Paper
"Today, there are more elderly than ever before, and their numbers are expected to increase as a percentage of the population in the coming years (Litwin & Zoabi, 2004). Based on this increase in numbers of elderly citizens, it is also reasonable to assume that there will be a concomitant increase in the incidence of elder abuse as well. In fact, in recent years, elder abuse by family members has been identified as a growing problem in Western societies (Bergeron & Gray, 2003; Litwin & Zoabi, 2004); however, it is difficult or perhaps even impossible to know whether elder abuse is actually increasing or decreasing because there is a paucity of national prevalence studies (Litwin & Zoabi, 2004; Johnson, 1991; Ebersole & Hess, 1998). The data that is available, though, suggests that the incidence of elder abuse is on the increase, particularly among those aged 75 years and above (Pritchard, 1993). According to the National Elder Abuse Incidence Study, the most accurate national estimate is that a total of 449,924 elderly people, aged 60 years and over, were the victims of abuse and/or neglect in domestic settings alone in 1996 (p. 6). Furthermore, of that number, just 16 percent or so, or approximately 71,987 cases, were actually reported to elder protection agencies (Bergeron & Gray, 2003). This means that across the country, there were approximately 380,000 cases of elder abuse in the home that went unreported - which is not to say undetected - during that year. Moreover, the National Center on Elder Abuse estimated the number of elder abuse cases across the country in all settings to be from 820,000 to 1,860,000 (cited in Ebersole & Hess, 1998). In reality, though, it does not matter whether elder mistreatment is increasing or decreasing because the fact that some elder citizens continue to experience unnecessary suffering is adequate to warrant attention (Johnson, 1991)."

Tags:healthcare, practitioner, protection, initiatives, reporting, investigating, treating, gerontology

Abstract
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), of the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), manages the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States (U.S.). In 2006, 5.5 million qualified veterans received care from at least one of the 1,400 VHA operated sites within the United States (Department Of Veteran Affairs, 2007). This paper describes the organizational structure, design, function and processes of the VHA. The paper also reviews the VHA's culture, communication style and barriers, decision making processes, including the values and ethics, and leadership styles. Additionally, a current environmental change affecting the VHA is presented with corresponding leadership behaviors.

Outline:
Organizational Design
Organizational Structure and Process
Organizational Culture
Leadership Styles
Organizational Communication
Communication Barrier
Organizational Decision Making
Environmental Changes
Problems with Environmental Changes
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The VHA contains 23 separate Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN), which are comprised of over 1,400 healthcare facilities. Each VISN is composed of many different facilities ranging from Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) to full service medical centers (Department Of Veteran Affairs, 2007). The VHA's organizational process is a vertical hierarchy that is departmentalized in structure. Organizational directives descend through the vertical hierarchy from the VA to the department level within each VHA facility. Relevant information and results are sent backup through the hierarchy to help guild upper management on future directives."

Tags:culture, communication, management

Abstract
This paper is a literature review to study the relationship between the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD) Military Health System (MHS), and civilian health care providers in the area of policy and utilization of management and information technology tools, which currently are adversely affecting the care of active duty military, their families and veterans. The author concludes that the governmental use of Lean and Six Sigma, specifically in the VA, MHS and DoD programs relating to healthcare provision for service members and beneficiaries has greatly expanded the capacity of these organizations to provide the required healthcare. The paper stresses that the management programs of Lean and Six Sigma offer potentials for cost savings, quality service provision and the elimination of waste in these organizations. Includes figures and tables.

Table of Contents:
Objective
Background of the Study
Statement of Thesis
Purpose of the Study
Literature Review
Department Of Defense (DoD) Task Force: On Future of Military Health Care
Systemic Obstacles Identified
DoD Findings Concerning Pharmacy Benefits and Recommended Tier Structure
Military Health System (MHS) Strategic Plan
DoD and VA Joint Strategic Plan
Military Health Systems Deployment of Electronic Dental Record
Health Information IT Systems Combined by DoD and Military Health System
Lean and Six Sigma to Improve Delivery of Government Services
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper
"In the area of improvement of efficiencies and cost-effectiveness of the military health care procurement system findings relate that that DoD obligations for medical services contracts was $1.6 billion in 1996, and that by the year 2005 this obligation had risen to $8 billion - or an increase of 412 percent. The cause for this growth in spending for service acquisition while is part attributed to recent trends and changes which includes downsizing in the civilian workforce as well as outsourcing and TRICARE benefits expansion along with attempting to meet new requirements as well as new demands."

Tags:recommendations contracts integrated tier, sigma six

Abstract
The paper discusses the benefits identified from the use of telecommuting, that include productivity gains, reduced turnover and less traffic congestion. The paper examines these issues as they relate to the U.S. workforce and employers in general and the Department of Veterans Affairs in particular. The paper illustrates the potential benefits telecommuting offers for the Department of Veterans Affairs and provides recommendations for implementation of the telecommuting initiative.

Outline:
Executive Summary
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Conclusion
Recommendations

From the Paper
"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a long and proud legacy based on President Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address to "care for him who shall have borne the battle, his widow and his orphan." To accomplish this mission has required innovative thinking and approaches to the delivery of healthcare services and the introduction of more efficient administrative procedures to address the increasingly complex nature of the VA's mission in the 21st century. One initiative that has proven effective in both the public and private sector in recent years in this regard is telecommuting, or a working arrangement wherein employees work part- or full-time from their homes using existing online communications procedures. Moreover, the infrastructure to immediately integrate telecommuting into the VA's existing employment alternatives is already in place at the VA and the costs of implementation are felt to be very modest compared to the major benefits that can be achieved through this initiative."

Tags:online, communications, implementation, productivity, work, arrangements