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WHAT
Urge governments to publish granular permalinks for all documents on their websites.
WHY
* Enable citizens to reliably cite government websites on their personal blogs, on public sites like Wikipedia, or elsewhere.
* Provide unique identifiers that enable aggregation of citations.
* Make the civic discourse surrounding government websites more discoverable.
HOW
* An easy-to-deploy archival server that can take page snapshots
o Hosts all permalinks
o Could be hosted by the agency or a third party
o Uses a software version-control tool as the primary database
o Allows other parties to replicate the data
o Likely an easy install of a Linux server distribution with the archival tools included
* Quick and easy integration solution
o Include Javascript on each page that ensures the archival server takes snapshots as each page changes
o The Javascript also walks through the HTML DOM to add permalinks to each paragraph
o The "easy integration" method works with even static HTML
* Long-term integration solution
o Option one
+ CMS pushes changes directly to the archival server
+ CMS integrates the archival server's permalinks directly into HTML
+ Most streamlined option
o Option two
+ A proxy server (base on Squid/Varnish?) that pushes changed content to the archival server
+ The proxy server modifies the content passing through it to add permalinks to the HTML
+ Works with any CMS and even static HTML
o More accessible
o No Javascript required
o Broadly applicable integration model (text filtering/formatting plugin) that works with even basic blog and CMS tools
* Mark up documents using paragraph/sectional anchor tags to create nice anchors that go directly to the correct paragraph
* Permalinks are human-readable URLs with timestamps, document ID, and an an anchor to the section/paragraph
o Example: Http://archive.house.gov/HR1586IH/20030318233035#S1b1Bii
o The example would point to section 1, subsection b, chapter 1, paragraph B, clause ii in SB 1234 on May 2, 2009 at 8:26:16 am UTC
WHEN
* We are fund-raising to both hire programmers to write the tools and to have codeathons where programmers donate their time to write Open Source tools they believe in.
* We are recruiting different levels of government implementation one agency at a time. Your support on http://citability.org will illustrate the demand.
* We are asking various proprietary software vendors to implement this standard in their software products.
WHERE
* Http://citability.org - sign up and show your support
* http://citability.pbworks.com - to help promote or to feedback on the internal standards we are suggesting. We are talking various implementations in different software to backups and server failover settings.
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It would be a big help to the VA and all veterans and associated systems and backlogs, if the VA could track veterans pending claims and appeals online with a tracking system like UPS or FEDEX, or some of the large online retailers. If the veteran can simply see that him claim is in the system and is in some stage of processing, that would save the VA tons of time to do other things, because there would be no need to write or call the VA to check on a claim.
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this past week - i took my mother to the va medical center in dallas
for a routine appointment - (which she went to) we went back to her standard clinic and wanted a doctor or nurse or someone
to look at a wound that is not healing. she has poor circulation,
and has been hospitalized before for wound care when she was in a
nursing home; i did not want a repeat of that. you would think
by the response of some of the medical staff that i was asking
them to donate a kidney to my mom. usually the care she has
received at this medical center has been above average - but
not always, and it has dramically improved in the 20 plus years
she has been going there.
but when one the the top nurses finally got a doctor to see
the wound - she stated that "don't do this again, you
know you need an appointment" and "just let this go"
so they want her to go from out patient to in patient because we
have to wait weeks for an appointment?
Let's review the facts --
although the clinic she was in was somewhat busy-
some of the staff had time to chit chat while they
could have been looking at the wound
a simple check of her med history would indicate
that she was in the hospital before (for over a month)
due to a similiar problem
and some of the staff should take several courses
in good customer service skills
the matter was finally resolved - a doctor did look at the
wound and prescribed some high level antibiotics and
special skin cream
my mother is elderly - she could die of natural causes just
sitting in the waiting room - her age and medical
condition all should of been taken into account
it finally was - 16 hours later from start of our
trip to being finally home .. we live in fort worth
it is an over 120 mile round trip via train and lite
rail...
there has to be a better way- put in an urgent care
clinic for clinic overflows and walk ins . because
i was about to take her to the va medical center's
emergency room
now if her regular doctor and regular nurse had been
in that day they would have seen her... unfortunately
they were not.
my mom served honorably in the Korean conflict was
stationed overseas right after WWII- she and other
veterans like her- deserve better
I am writing the Chief of Staff , as well as a Texas
Senator and the Secretary of veterans Affairs. Our
President is talking about univeral health care
and health care like the VA. (well, it's ok on
a good day... but no one should go through
what my mother and I went through this past week)
please note- not all the staff in that clinic
were un accommodating - that clinic usually runs
like a well oiled machine - but not that day. we
are usually very satisfied - but as stated before
not on that day.
there has got to be a better way...
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Some clerks at Hines VA (Hines, IL) have been in their positions forever -- and some of them have dreadful manner and behaviors. It's offensive and a real drag...
Conversely while visiting Orlando, FL I was just amazed at the enthusiasm, morale, and "service attitude" I experienced in the Orange Clinic.
I think at one point N. Chgo VA was rotating some of their people. Can see at least some of the pros and cons here.
For example, compare and contrast the MHC desk at Hines with the go-getter folks at Orange Clinic Orlando and MHC N. Chicago and fix the first instance.
This is not ad hominem, it's just business...
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The VA Hospitals are exempt from being put in a law suit. That should not be, If someone in the VA Hospitals make a major mistake that did or could have caused harm to that Veteran and family they should be held accountable. But as it sits the Attorney's for the VA Hospitals tell you all you can get is ZERO to $300.00 for their mistake. And I notice if one VA has trouble with an employee they tranfer he or she to another VA hospital so another Veteran gets the problem. I know I have first hand experience. Pleas comment on this so I know how far the problem lies.
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Presently, VA Medical Centers do not provide Veterans with bedside access to the Internet. Apparently, this is not an authorized use of VA bandwidth and network access.
Why not provide Internet service to Veterans in VA Medical Centers by using donated funds and equipment? This is a great way to help Veterans by setting them up with a means to use the Internet while they are in a VA Medical Center. VA would need to provide some equipment room space and establish technical standards to avoid any electronic interference with medical devices.
Use the Fisher House foundation as a model. Properly packaged, this would be a slam dunk to draw donated funds from IT corporations, charitable organizations and patriotic private citizens. Perhaps a VSO could champion the cause?
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Nearly 75% of veterans do not know their complete benefits available to them. My company has created a unique veteran outreach program featuring our interactive kiosks. I have included a web link below for you to preview the program kiosks as well.
http://www.meisseproductions.com/veteran/index.html
The Veteran Outreach Program:
The specific goal for the Veteran Outreach Program is to educate veterans and their families on new and existing programs and benefits available to them, while emphasizing the importance of visiting their local VSO.
Additional program benefits:
• Provides critical federal and state information for United States veterans and their families.
• Identifies the local veterans and assists in getting them to their local VSO.
• Promotes a VA unified message consistently throughout the country.
• Provides local VSOs with a solid communication tool.
• Allows the user to interactively select the information they would like to learn about.
• Educates around the clock without costly intervention.
• Ability to be used at local stores, malls, community events, libraries, military bases, VFW halls, Elks lodges, American Legion posts, etc.
State funding to educate veterans is not available due to the economy. The Veterans Administration is the only agency with proper funding that can reach out to all veterans. THe kiosks educate twenty-four hours a day and reach veterans in places that the internet or service officers can't. Thank you.
Stu Lyle
Meisse Productions
419-529-5900 Ext 250
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I have been fighting the VA for over 24 years on a claim. I have about 2 or three claims in now with the Order of the Purple Heart in North Little rock AR, The Va in little Rock has been sitting on these claims for way over 90 days and all i get is thet they are in for Rating. I call the 1-800 number and they are not up to date with information so to me that is wasting vets time. I am not getting any younger and my health is getting worse so I think i need answers and so does my reps. I think 24 plus years is long enough to fight. I fought for this country for many years.
Steve Isaacson
Old Veteran
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It is very confusing for Vet's to manage there meds on line when we go to order refills on linebecause there is no name for the medication only a number. at my last viist to the VA the Doc. delete meds I don't take and renewed the old ones. when I whent to reorder my meds I could not find the number that I had been using. I had to call my Doc. to conferm the meds that were there they only see a name and nopt a number. CAN YOU PLEASE ADD THE MEDICATION NAME TO THE REFILL SITE PLEASE TO HELP US BETTER MANAGE OUR MEDICATION ORDERING?
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Learning about Federal employees who have disabilities, and taking proper action to take care of these matters.
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There is no statutory procedure to follow nor
are there any VA application FORMS published
so that groups of toxic exposure veterans can
file for, and expeditiously receive, Presumption
Service Connected statusing for hazardous exposure
causations. We are all klunking around out here
shuffling from one place to the next trying to
hook into just the process itself. An Act of Congress
doesn't cut it for medical patients, so let's
stop the Human Torture of our people and
get VA disability Presumptive statusing standardized
as a national priority complete with filing
forms at the VA and with a fast track entry
process into the Environmental Hazards Advisory
Committee and stop with all the fun and games
in between which are in place right now.
Who ever heard of a bunch of medical patients
having to get an "Act of Congress" just to be
recognized as a toxic exposure group ???
This is something that only a disconnected VA
would do.
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if DOD will becoming a joint partner with the VA, all medical records will already be on hand for the membership numbers. VA has some extreme intelligent executives who are far above the patients and healthcare professionals within the facilities - most affiliated with universities.
if possible to hand over the healthcare, hands on treatment to the university staff, transferring all present VA healthcare (hands on) professionals to university staff payrolls. Leaving the highly intelligent VA executives to manage the buildings and health claims??? I think, this might be a win / win scenario. A full spectrum of healthcare for our returning veterans, one they wouldn't be hesitate to use (stigma) with maternity and dependent care included getting rid of the need for Tricare all together.
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Assisting in a Veteran Service Office with 25,000 veterans I would really like to see a satisfaction survey sent out concerning what I consider to be a terrible CBOC (from what I have experienced and heard). If these survey results show a high amount of dissatisfaction I would like to see the VA take action to improve these CBOC's. It's not about these VA employees who feel that the VA Medical System is all for them but it is completely about our veterans who have served their country and deserve respect and assistance in many ways.
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With Obama wanting Health Care Reform why are veterans not being brought up on health care issues in the bill? Are we going to be standing in longer lines for care. Are we going to be pushed aside like we so often are? I just find it quite typical of the government when they dont want you to know something they click in on other issues to divert you away. Will veterans be fined for not getting government health care. Will we be charged for getting health care. I KNOW, we will be taxed for our compensation to help pay for the new health care. How stupid of me. Like one VA doctor told me years ago when I tried to get an increase for a service connected shoulder injury. You are getting ten per cent now, youre getting over. I strongly believe there is a move afoot to tax our compensation and start charging us for our health care at VA facilities. What would be a better deal for the government. Tax us, charge us and then fine us.
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Maybe the quick fix is to fire all the heads of the VA.And put in more true Veterans that have dealt with the problems that we all have been having with the VA.
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Today I was denied a Washington State park veterans disability pass for Washington State park system. I am an American Veteran. I volunteered for service in the Army to defend my country in the Vietnam war. I do have a 50% disability military related letter. I do have a State of California Veteran's disability discount pass card.
I applied to the State of Washington for a similar veteran's card to use the State of Washington's State Parks.
I am a United States of American Veteran. I am NOT a California state veteran, I am a veteran who lives in California. I volunteered to protect all the citizens of the United States of America and I want my military service related disabilities to be recognized in any state in the United States of America and I want all veterans and current military personnel who are disabled due to military related medical conditions to receive a nation wide - one single card - that will be applicable in every state of the United States of America because that is what I am. I am a veteran who is disabled at a service related rate of 50% and I defended the United States Of America when I volunteered for Army duty in the Vietnam war.
I feel I represent the numerous veterans and current military men and women who are discriminated not only as a veteran, but as a disabled person who has been denied access to the state park system in the State of Washington because I do not leave my disablity at home in California...I live with the military related disabilities every day in every way and in every state.
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Has anyone had a problem`s with the VA not answering there IRIS ?WE have many IRIS that have not been answered is there any reason for that?Many IRIS have been sent to the Region OFFICE in my state.Can something be done to make sure they answer these IRIS and we have been waiting along time for an privcay officer from that region office to call us about a matter that has not been answerd.Can we Fix this or is it just us?
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In the spirit of openess I believe the VA Health System desparately needs recorded monitoring of the VA receptionist at the VA facilities. Many of these receptionists are contracted out and they are often young and working at their first job. I have been working as a volunteer county Veteran Service Assistant for our Veteran Service Officer. I have noticed and many veterans have told me about the terrible attitude and the message that some of these receptionist convey to them. A message that the receptionist is in charge and they answer to no-one. Often some of these receptionists grossly verbally mistreat our veterans. The CBOC in our county has even called the police on our veterans before. The only nurse on staff they call the office manager sticks up for her recepeptionists and offers no apologies. I believe all calls should be recorded for the benefit of the veteran and anyone verbally abusing, bullying, or mistreating our veterans along with anyone harboring this attitude and these activities should be held accountable and be disciplined. I talked to who I thought was the patient advocate at our Regional VA Hospital and he told me the Veteran Service Officer Assistant that he did not want me calling him and that from now on I was to call the office nurse. This office sure works transparently, OR NOT!
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In testimony before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Secretary Shinseki said that one of VA's strategic goals is to "improve workforce satisfaction and make VA an employer of choice." I'd like to suggest using the model developed by the Great Place to Work Institute, which is used in Fortune Magazine's annual list of "The 100 Best Companies to Work For." That model has five dimensions:
Measures of CREDIBILITY include open and accessible communications, the competent coordination of human and material resources, and consistency and integrity of corporate vision.
Measures of RESPECT include supporting professional development, demonstrating appreciation, collaborating with employees on relevant decisions, and caring for employees as individuals with personal lives and outside interests.
Measures of FAIRNESS include balanced treatment for all, the absence of favoritism in hiring and promotions, and the lack of discrimination and a process for appeals.
Measures of PRIDE address attitudes toward employees’ jobs, their individual contributions, the work produced by teams or work groups, and their organization’s products and standing in the community.
And measures of CAMARADERIE look for a socially friendly and welcoming atmosphere, a sense of “family” or “team,” and the ability to be oneself.
Many of these measures are reflected in items included in the Federal Human Capital Survey (now called the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey). Last June, the director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management asked Federal agencies to look at their results from the 2008 administration of that survey, identify the ten items on which they scored lowest (compared to overall government results), conduct follow-up activities to understand the reasons for employee dissatisfaction, and create an action plan to increase employee satisfaction. (VA skipped the follow-up activities and went straight to creating the plan. Please don't do that any more.)
I think that a more appropriate gap analysis would involve comparing CURRENT levels with DESIRED levels. And instead of leaving this task to the Office of Human Resources and Administration, create a "Great Place to Work" Council, with members from every VA office or organization involved in improving the workplace environment. (For example, the National Center for Organization Development, the Labor-Management Partnership Council, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of Resolution Management, the Office of Policy and Planning, and all others who I hope will forgive me for failing to mention them.)
Also, I'd suggest expanding the use of the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey in order to be able to evaluate results at the level of individual facilities instead of just overall VA and by Administration. That would make it easier to target those areas most in need of attention. Expanding the use of the VHA All Employee Survey would not be as valuable for two reasons: first, it doesn't contain the items or response categories required by Federal regulations; second, it doesn't allow comparisons to results outside VA.
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President Obama has expressed his intention that VA be transformed into a 21st century organization, and Secretary Shinseki has expressed his commitment to making VA "people centric, results driven, and forward looking." My suggestion is to expand on the Secretary's vision by increasing VA's use of the Baldrige Criteria to measure and improve organizational performance.
Currently, VA uses the Baldrige Criteria as the basis for the Secretary's Robert W. Carey Performance Excellence Awards Program. The Baldrige Criteria are organized into seven categories: leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; workforce focus; process management; measurement, analysis, and knowledge; and results. And the Baldrige Criteria are built upon core values and concepts of visionary leadership, customer-driven excellence, organizational and personal learning, valuing workforce members and partners, agility, focus on the future, managing for innovation; management by fact, societal responsibility, focus on results and creating value, and a systems perspective.
Increasing VA's use of the Baldrige Criteria to measure and improve organizational performance would provide an integrated approach to organizational performance management.
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Will VA has done it again without even knowing it, The Parkinson’s, Ischemic heart disease and B-cell leukemias it look like these disease’s it will take about a year to get their first reply and here is why:
VA stated that the law will be here this spring and in April VA waits the contractors to submit proposals in 90 days, then after VA APPROVES the SOLUTIONS then it will take 150 days to apply the new solution and start inputting all the claim that have been back logged waiting VA to get right (maybe) . You are looking at a year+ for your first notice.
So people like me that have submitted the claim with all test, lab’s, ct’s ,cat scans and doctor notes in October of 2009 and had a VA examination in 2009 and now it has been put on hold until the law is passed and VA get their act start on how they wait to input it. I feel they should process the one’s they have before they loose the paper work or tell you to start all over again because the paper is out dated.
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Why does the federal government exclude Thailand Vietnam Vets from filing VA claims about Agent Orange issues & ailments?
Sincerely,
Thailand Vietnam Vet
Takhli RTAB, Dec.'65 to '66
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Over 2 years ago I was treated at non-VA ER. I had been told by my PCP at the CBOC where I was a patient to go to the ER because of chest pain. I notified the CBOC of the visit as soon as I was discharged. I recveived the bills and sent them to Charlie Norwood VAMC for payment. To this day I have never received any notification as to whether of not the bills were paid or denied. Since I didn't get any more bills I assumed that Charlie Norwood VAMC paid them. Now just yesterday I received notification from the doctor's office that the bill has been sent to collection.
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There are actuall two issues here. The first deals with getting the Charlie Norwood VAMC to respond to a veteran who has submitted a travel voucher from a CBOC. My experience has been that a veteran has to call the VAMC to find out the status of the request. If the veteran isn't eligible for travel pay then Charlie Norwood VAMC should notify the veteran and tell him/her why the request was denied. Actually, I believe this is the law.
The other issue is that when a veteran receives travel payment in the mail the accompanying transmittal letter makes no mention of the date for which travel is being paid. VA should change the form that accompanies payment to indicate the day for which travel pay is being paid.
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Some veterans are not currently using their benefits and may not for many years. Perhaps someone else can take advantage of them until that vet retires or decides to use his benefits. Benefits sharing
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