The Institute has completed the pre-planning phase of the project, which developed the road map to define the effort needed to obtain the required information, identify and arrive at the appropriate decisions, and perform the required actions for effective and beneficial transformation of VAFM. During the pre-planning phase, subject matter experts (SME) and an advisory group were selected. Four firms were chosen as SMEs to lead the three parts of Phase I: 1) develop metrics, benchmarks, and best practices, 2) enterprise model development, and 3) healthcare organizational structure. The advisory group, consisting of ten members, includes architects, engineers, contractors, healthcare administrators, and academic researchers with expertise in military, private, or public sector healthcare delivery. Both SMEs and advisors will support the work of the VA action team and report to the VA management team.

The objectives for the first phase of the VAFM Transformation Initiative are divided into three parts.

Part 1 objectives include:

• Capture of baseline information and data on existing VA processes and programs:

  • efficiency metrics

  • cost and time data

  • other productivity or activity benchmarks

• Identification and capture of similar baseline efficiency and productivity data:

  • other federal agencies

  • private healthcare providers

• Analysis of the baseline data and information

• Identification of systemic inefficiencies and productive processes and programs

• Development of best practices, appropriate strategies, and opportunities for building improvements and enhanced productivity within the VA facility lifecycle process

 Part 2 objectives include:

• Development of facility management strategy for Headquarters, Regional, and Local levels

• Propose appropriate enterprise models to support facilities planning, facilities acquisition, facilities sustainment, and facilities systems

• Based on best practices and enterprise performance metrics established in Part 1, facilitate VA’s development of appropriate enterprise model

Part 3 objectives include:

• Development of appropriate organizational structure for VA

• Facilitate VA’s analysis and selection of the appropriate operational solution and plan for development and implementation

• Development of VA organizational structure