# Presentation: 148383

## VA Express Card

- October 19, 2000

## History

***History***

**Metal ID**
**1930s-1970s**

**Paper ID**
**1940s-1970s**

**Plastic ID**
**(first generation)**
**1970s-1990s**

**Veteran **
**Identification **
**Card (VIC)**
**1997**

**VA**
**Express Card**
**2001**

## Background

- The national implementation of VIC was completed in April 1997
- The card was plastic, embossed, with a magnetic stripe and bar code
- The embossed information allows for paper transfer of information, while the magnetic strip and bar code are electronically readable

- October 19, 2000

## Background

- VIC was to rapidly “look-up” medical and administrative information on the veteran
- It would allow for “electronic” registration
- Cards were personalized at each facility with five data elements including name, date-of-birth, social security number, claim number and service connection - non changing information only

- October 19, 2000

## Background

- VIC also contains a small black & white picture of the veteran
- Takes about a minute to produce
- To date almost eight million cards have been issued

- October 19, 2000

## Background

- In the Fall of 1998, after a complete program review a recommendation was presented to Headquarters...”rather than make incremental improvements in the existing VIC, the VA should move to smart VIC cards.”
- The recommendation was approved in the Fall of 1999

- October 19, 2000

## Background

- In May 2000 the Acting Secretary expressed his desire for the VA to utilize smart card technology to provide express services to veterans
- During the week of  June 26, 2000 the VA Smart Card Project Management Team had its first meeting, the Project Manager was appointed, and the VIC Steering Committee became the VA Smart Card Steering Committee.

- October 19, 2000

## Objectives

- There will be only one card across the Department
- The card may be presented by a veteran at any VHA, VBA, NCA facility and will honored by all VA employees

- October 19, 2000

## Objectives

- be scaleable
- enhance VA’s business services and bring inherent value to VA’s mission and veterans
- be network-centric as opposed to card-centric to the extent possible

**The VA Express Card will:**

- October 19, 2000

## Objectives

- Provide express registration functionality
- Provide emergency medical information
- Provide a kiosk application to allow the veteran to view the data on their card in order to improve data quality
- Contain a digital certificate to facilitate veteran’s participation in e-commerce and e-government

**The VA Express Card will:**

- October 19, 2000

## Objectives

- provide additional applications as it matures,
-   such as:
- 	* interacting with kiosks to get 	   	   	   appointment listings, to enter 	     	   	   pharmacy refill requests or to change 	   administrative information, mailing
- 	   address, telephone number, etc.

**The VA Express Card will:**

- October 19, 2000

## Objectives

- provide additional applications as it matures,
-   such as:
- 	* an electronic DD-214
- 	* electronic purse functionally
- 	* biometrics (e.g. retinal scan, fingerprint, 	   hand scan)

**The VA Express Card will:**

- October 19, 2000

## Implementation Phases

- January 2001
**INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION**
- VHA VISN 12 and their associated VBA and NCA facilities
- ---
- (by Jan) 	Milwaukee/Iron Mountain
- 		registration application, digital certificates
- (by Mar) 	network data option
- (by Jun) 	entire VISN

- October 19, 2000

## Implementation Phases

- January 2002
**NATIONAL  IMPLEMENTATION**
- ---
- Full GUI Registration Package
- Emergency Medicine
- Digital Certificate Applications

- October 19, 2000

## Initial Implementation Goals

- Determine adequacy of visual ID with introduction of larger, full color patient photograph
- Determine adequacy of data carrier for registration data, emergency medical information & demographics

- October 19, 2000

## Initial Implementation Goals

- Determine portability of patient information, specifically between VA and non-VA facilities
- Test ability to satisfy interoperability requirements of VA, DOD and G-8 / Netlink specifications
- Assess acceptance by veterans of the VA Express Card

- October 19, 2000

## Initial Implementation Goals

- Identify impact upon business processes - what can be streamlined, changed, eliminated
- Identify any technology requirements/barriers to the use of the VA Express Card

- October 19, 2000

## Components

***Components***

**Integrated Computer Chip with Data**
**Bar Code**
**Magnetic Stripe**
**Picture ID**
**Printed Text**
**Cryptographic coprocessor**
**Digital Certificate**

- October 19, 2000

## Critical Tasks

** ****Vendor Selection**** **
**	****Interface development, specifications development, ****	****card stock procurement, card issuance**
** ****VistA Software Development**
**	****Registration (card or network data), emergency ****	****	****medical information, data extraction**
** ****Site Surveys and Preparations**
** ****Data Collection**** **

- October 19, 2000

## Critical Tasks

** ****Equipment Procurement**
**	****Smart card stock, readers(/writers), issuance ****	****	****stations, kiosks**
** ****Equipment Installation**
** ****Documentation Development**** **
**	****education, presentation, mail out, training plan, ****	****	****VBA applications**
** ****Site Training and Readiness**
** ****Help Desk Establishment**
** ****Evaluation – Lessons Learned**

- October 19, 2000