Veterans Health Care: Improvements Needed in Operationalizing Strategic Goals and Objectives

Abstract

Veterans health care needs may change due to changes in veteran demographics and other factors. Strategic planning, including identifying mission, vision, goals, and objectives, and operationalizing strategies to achieve those goals and objectives are essential for VHA to establish its strategic direction to respond to these changing demands and provide care in a dynamic environment. GAO was asked to review VHAs strategic planning. This report examines (1) VHAs strategic planning process and (2) the extent to which VHA operationalizes its strategic goals and objectives. GAO reviewed VHA strategic planning documents; and interviewed officials from VA and VHA central office, three VISNs selected to provide variation in geographic location, and nine VAMCs within these VISNs selected to provide variation in factors such as geographic location and facility complexity. GAO evaluated VHAs actions against federal standards for internal control and leading practices for strategic planning.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1021756

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Congress
  • Delivery Of Health Care
  • Department Of Veterans Affairs
  • Geographic Regions
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Health
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • House Of Representatives
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Medical Personnel
  • Organizational Structure
  • Outpatient Clinics
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Veterans Health

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Care for Military Service Members and Veterans with Limb Loss or Disability.