Monday, January 13, 2020 12:00 AM |
Message From The Executive In ChargeVHA Central Office Redesign and Town Hall InviteI am excited to share that Secretary Wilkie has approved plans to redesign VHA Central Office (VHACO). Our goal is to more efficiently support facilities across VHA to improve care to Veterans. It has taken more than a year to develop a design that best uses your talents, reduces redundant work and improves communications and transparency, allowing VHACO to work as a partner with VISNs and facilities. VHA senior leadership has addressed recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Commission on Care, and the Independent Assessment to redesign VHACO to better support Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) and facility operations. Our new structure addresses many of the concerns that put VHA on the GAO high risk list. I am confident we have the right employees with the right talent to lead us through this process. Rest assured we will not have a reduction in force (RIF) as a result of this redesign. There is plenty of work for all of us to do. These changes will better align the workforce so that we can more effectively support operations throughout VHA. Every single one of us is critical to making sure VHA can deliver exceptional care to Veterans every day. I am counting on your talent, your knowledge of VHA and your commitment to Veterans to help us make this transition as smooth as possible. What Does this Mean to VHACO Employees? What are the Benefits of this Change? How Can You Learn More? Our leadership team understands that organizational change can bring anxiety and that you may have questions. I look forward to sharing more about the path forward and the benefits of the redesign at the VHACO Town Hall on February 3, 2020, at 2:30-3:30 pm (EST). There are three ways that you can join the Town Hall: In-person: Room 230, 810 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20420. Please come early. Doors close promptly at 2:30PM ET due to this being a live and recorded event. Listen Only: 1-800-767-1750 X60879. You may dial in up to 10 minutes early. Where Can You Ask Questions? You can find the latest information about the VHACO redesign on the VHA Organizational Improvement SharePoint site and information on all the VHA Lanes of Effort on the VHA Modernization SharePoint site. Thank you for your support and for all that you do to provide the highest level of service to Veterans. Richard A. Stone, MD |