Challenge
Expanded use of web and mobile technologies have enabled health care providers to deliver enhanced services and information, work more efficiently, and improve quality of health, care delivery, and patient satisfaction. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the nation’s largest integrated health care system, is using web and mobile applications (apps) to improve comprehensive care and service. VHA Web/Mobile Solutions (WMS), within VHA’s Connected Health Office, has created a robust foundation for the development and deployment of dozens of apps, supporting the VHA’s mission to deliver high-quality care to the 8.3 million Veterans it serves every year. WMS required support to help manage its rapidly expanding suite of web and mobile apps throughout the various phases of development, including managing the lifecycle, determining requirements, and providing training to a variety of related stakeholders.
Solution
Atlas Research teamed with Booz Allen Hamilton to provide lifecycle, requirements, and training assistance to WMS for 75 web and mobile apps. The Atlas Team provides comprehensive requirements gathering and documentation to bridge the gap between business owner requests and development guidelines, setting the development process up for success. The Atlas Team also provides continuous project coordination activities across the lifecycle to accelerate applications through the complex process and support the development of user-friendly, secure, and pertinent apps. This support includes participation in scrum and sprint sessions, online management database tracking and reporting, risk mitigation, certification and clearance, and dashboard development and delivery. For finalized apps, the Atlas Team delivers training to a targeted set of stakeholders who will accelerate training and adoption within their respective networks.
Result
Since the project began in late 2013, the Atlas Team has worked closely with WMS to streamline processes, identify requirements, and coordinate applications through the entire development lifecycle. The team’s national train-the-trainer approach efficiently disseminates knowledge and promotes adoption of new apps among VA health care providers, Veterans, caregivers, and other relevant stakeholder groups. Through these web and mobile app efforst, the Atlas Team is enabling health care providers to deliver enhanced services and information, work more efficiently, and improve quality of health, care delivery, and patient satisfaction.