almost 10 years ago

Announcing the winners

We’re thrilled to announce the winners of VA Medical Appointment Scheduling Contest.

View all the winners in the Gallery.

Thanks again to everyone who participated and made the challenge a great success!

The VA Medical Appointment Scheduling Contest team


over 10 years ago

Limitation of Number of Contestants - Registration Reminder

The number of entrants that will be accepted to participate in the VA Medical Appointment Scheduling Contest is now limited to the first 50 validated registrants. Contestants are reminded that registration for the contest closes on May 13, 2013, at 12 noon (Eastern).


over 10 years ago

U.S. Medicine Article

U.S. Medicine has published an article regarding the contest. VA Sponsors Contest to Find Best Possible Scheduling Software

The entire article can be viewed at the following location:

  • http://www.usmedicine.com/articles/va-sponsors-contest-to-find-best-possible-scheduling-software.html#.UT5MgRzlbjI

over 10 years ago

General Anouncement

The Department of Veterans Affairs would like to remind contestants to become familiar with the contest rules (http://vascheduling.challenge.gov/rules) concerning requirements for registration, eligibility, and intellectual property. As a reminder, it’s each potential contestant’s responsibility to determine and certify their eligibility to participate in this contest. VA will not make determinations regarding a potential candidate’s eligibility until a completed and signed registration letter is submitted that addresses all areas of the rules of eligibility.

It is also important that contestants familiarize themselves with the Contestant Process Overview (http://www.ehealth.va.gov/docs/mass/TCMS-Contestant_Process_Overview.pdf) prior to posting questions or comments to VA using

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Description of Virtual Testing Environment

Please view this document in entirety in PDF format at http://www.ehealth.va.gov/docs/mass/TCMS-Description_Virtual_Testing_Environment.pdf

A virtual testing environment has been configured to provide an on-line environment in which submissions to the scheduling contests can be evaluated in a fair and objective manner.

Background

This virtual testing environment satisfies the following requirements:

  • Provides a representative multi-site VistA configuration.
  • Provides a largely identical environment for evaluating all contestant submissions.
  • Contestants will have sufficient control of the virtual machines (VMs) in which they will prepare their submissions.
  • Upon submission, evaluators will have a standardized environment in which they will be able to review each submission.
Specification

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Contestant Process Overview

Please view this document in entirety in PDF format at http://www.ehealth.va.gov/docs/mass/TCMS-Contestant_Process_Overview.pdf

This document provides an overview of the process and deadlines associated with the Scheduling Contest.

The process includes four major stages:

  • Registration and assignment of test environment resources
  • Preparation and submission of contestant solution for evaluation
  • Testing:  Steps 1, 2A, and 2B
  • Final determination and announcement of awards

The flowchart on the following page illustrates the process flow of the Contest.  The remainder of this document expands on some of the key events in the flowchart.

Contest Opens and Contestant Registers

The Contest will open on December 14, 2012. …

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Criteria for Evaluation of Open Source Compatibility

Please view this document in entirety in PDF format at http://www.ehealth.va.gov/docs/mass/TCMS-Criteria_Evaluation_Open_Source_Compatibility.pdf

This evaluation will allocate 30 points that will contribute to the final score of the contestant. In order to apply for these 30 points the components must be under an OSI-Approved License (see http://opensource.org/ for details).

1. License of the Scheduling Package is Open Source (5 points) An explicit LICENSE file must be in the VM. These points are split as:

     a. License compatible with the Apache 2.0 License (2 points)

     b. Specific use of the Apache 2.0 License (3 points)

2. Scheduling+VistA Integration

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Submission Checklist

Please view this document in entirety in PDF format a http://www.ehealth.va.gov/docs/mass/TCMS-Submission_Checklist.pdf

A successful submission to the Scheduling Contest will need to contain the following items:

  • Scheduler Application
  • Integration code tying the scheduler to the installed VistA instance
  • Additional OSEHRA compliant testing code to satisfy the test scenarios

These items should be installed appropriately with the scheduler placed as appropriate for the submission, with the integration code placed into the running VistA instance and (optionally) in the VistA FOIA repository clone, and with the OSEHRA compliant testing code placed into the appropriate directory.

In a Linux Virtual Machine:

/home/contestant/OSEHRA/Dashboards/OSEHRA-Automated-Testing

In

Read more


almost 11 years ago

VistA Open Source Compatibility Definition

Please view this document in entirety in PDF format at http://www.ehealth.va.gov/docs/mass/TCMS-Definition_Compatibility_OpenSource_VistA.pdf

This document defines the concept of “Compatibility with Open Source VistA” for the purpose of the Scheduling Package Challenge.

The Open Source Electronic Health Record Agent (OSEHRA) has created an open source environment for VistA, and is hosting the VistA FOIA version as the core of this code base. In this document, this version of VistA is referred to as Open Source VistA.

Strict Definition of Compatibility

In the strictest sense, an external application or a new software component is “compatible with open source VistA” if, when integrated with

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Instructions on Use of Testing Environment

Please view this document in entirety in PDF format at 

http://www.ehealth.va.gov/docs/mass/TCMS-Instructions_Use_Testing_Environment.pdf  

The Virtual Machines provided to contestants have installed a pre-configured environment for the creation and execution of tests.  The CMake (www.cmake.org) suite of tools is being utilized for this contest.  This environment is using two main tools: CMake and CTest.

  • CMake:  An open source cross-platform build system.  CMake can generate build components for a multitude of systems and build environments.
  • CTest: An open source cross-platform test driver system.  CTest integrates with the CMake configured system and is able to perform the tests that have been written for the

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Scheduling-Centric Functional Requirements - Attachment A

ATTACHMENT A
SCHEDULING-CENTRIC FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Business Need (BN) Revised Owner Number Owner Requirement (OWNR)

BN 1:  Manage National Medical Scheduling Setup – The scheduling system shall provide the capability to configure and manage business rules and standards at an national level including establishing parameters for role-based user access and security and supporting a process to monitor and evaluate results of audit reports.
  1.1 The system shall have the capability to provide integrated, electronic access to and from other VistA applications.
 1.2 Maintain and Modify Scheduling Configuration – The system shall provide the capability to establish and maintain national, VISN, VAMC, clinic, provider-level configuration standards. …

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Scheduling-Related & VA-Specific Requirements & Point Allocations - Attachment B

ATTACHMENT B
SCHEDULING-RELATED AND VA-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
AND POINT ALLOCATIONS

Requirement Description Points
1 The system shall have the capability to provide for the enforcement and modification of national-level data standards including procedure and diagnosis codes as currently defined in VistA. 3
2 Flexible Schedule Component Organization – The solution shall have a mechanism to oversee and manage potential impacts to the system as a result of policies, directives, etc. 5
3 The system shall provide the flexibility to accommodate new functional requirements based on business needs (e.g., primary care home (PACT) based care appointments, telehealth, etc.). 5
4 The system shall have the capability to alert VA staff when…

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Non-Functional Requirements - Attachment C

ATTACHMENT C
NON-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

NFR Characteristic NFR
Sub-characteristic NFR Statement
 
1 Functionality   
1.1   The Scheduling Solution shall be capable of providing configurable error messages, work flows, and alerts.  
1.2  Accuracy 
1.2.1  The Scheduling Solution shall display appointment time with appropriate time zones.
  
1.3  Interoperability 
1.3.1  The Scheduling Solution shall support content transportation standards and implementation specifications set forth in 45 CFR 170.205.         1.3.2  The Scheduling Solution shall be capable of navigating seamlessly among related modules throughout the end-to-end scheduling process.      1.4  Security 
1.4.1   The Scheduling Solution shall be able to support secure messaging

2 Usability 
2.1 Understandability 
2.1.1    The Scheduling Solution shall be…

Read more


almost 11 years ago

VA's Health Care Delivery System - Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT)

VA’s Health Delivery System 

VA’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA) operates one of the largest integrated health delivery systems in the United States, delivering comprehensive care to approximately six million Veterans through a network of health care facilities owned and staffed by VA, academic medical affiliates and other contracted providers, contracted networks, and episodic fee-for-service purchases.  Veterans scheduled approximately 80 million outpatient clinical visits – more than 300,000 each working day in FY 2011.  

VA delivers care through 21 Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISNs) which administer:

  • 152 hospitals, sometimes known as VA Medical Centers or VAMCs,
  • 971 outpatient clinics –…

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Sample Test Script: Scenario 001 Description

Please view this document in entirety in PDF format at http://www.ehealth.va.gov/docs/mass/TCMS-Sample_Test_Script_Description.pdf

Sample Test Script: Scenario 001 Description

For the convenience of contestants, the configured testing framework provides an example of a fully implemented Use Case Scenario. This is Scenario 001 from the document of “Use Cases”. This document describes details of the script that implements this first scenario, with the goal of facilitating the work of contestants when setting up the tests for the subsequent seven Use Case scenarios.

Setup

Please refer to the instructions in document TCMS – Instruction on Use of Testing Environment to set up and modify

Read more


almost 11 years ago

How to Obtain Access to the Virtual Environment

Please view this document in entirety in PDF format at http://www.ehealth.va.gov/docs/mass/TCMS-Intructions_Obtain_Access_Virtual_Environment.pdf

How to Obtain Access to the Virtual Environment

This document covers two major topics:

  • A description of the Email Template that contestants will receive from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Evaluation Team.
  • A description of the mechanism for logging into the Virtual Machines (VMs) assigned to the contestant.
Email Notification Template

As part of the process of registering for the contest, every contestant should provide the following “point of contact” (POC) information:

  • POC Full Name
  • Organization
  • Business Address
  • Phone Number
  • Email Address

Once the registration has been verified by the

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Step 1 Test Cases

Please view this document in entirety in PDF format at http://www.ehealth.va.gov/docs/mass/TCMS-Step1_Test_Cases.pdf

Step 1 Test Cases 

 Contents

USE CASE 1:  ESTABLISH, ORGANIZE, AND MANAGE THE SCHEDULING COMPONENT   2

USE CASE 2: Establish and Manage Section Schedules.. 6

USE CASE 3: Create A Patient Appointment.. 10

USE CASE 4: Manage a Patient Appointment.. 12

USE CASE 5: Manage A Walk-In Patient.. 14

USE CASE 6: Cancel Individual Appointment.. 15

USE CASE 7: Reschedule Individual Appointment.. 17

USE CASE 8: Add Appointment Request to Waiting List and Schedule Patient from Waiting List.. 19

USE CASE 1: 

Read more


almost 11 years ago

VistA scheduling services API

An open source web services API for selected VistA scheduling services has been created and is available to contestants, though its use is not required. A test suite and sample interface is also available to assist with using the services. Find out more at http://osehra.org/group/mdws.


almost 11 years ago

Prizes

Numbers and Amounts of Prizes 

  1. VA will award monetary prizes of as much as $3 Million to as many as three entrants that deliver demonstration software or service which the judges determine delivers the required functionality and is compatible with Open Source VistA, as described in this notice.  
  2. Judges will determine the number and amount of monetary prizes.  Judges may determine that no prize will be awarded.
  3. VA may consider compatibility with Open Source VistA as demonstrated in this contest when considering proposals in any subsequent procurement of MSP-related product(s).

Payment of Prizes

a)    Prior to payment of any…

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Judging

The goal of this contest is to encourage creation of systems that help Veterans make appointments to receive outpatient and ambulatory care[1] from the Veterans Health Administration.  VA also seeks to obtain information which will allow it to reduce the risks inherent in procurement and deployment of a replacement medical scheduling product.

Numbers and Amounts of Prizes. 

a. VA will award monetary prizes of as much as $3 Million to as many as three entrants that deliver demonstration software or service which the judges determine delivers the required functionality and is compatible with Open Source VistA, as…

Read more


almost 11 years ago

Replacing VA's Medical Scheduling Software and the Role of this Contest

Replacing VA’s Medical Scheduling Software

VA intends to replace the current MSP with a scheduling product[1] which is a standards-based, modular, extensible and scalable, certified as compliant and fully interoperable with the production version of VistA now held by the Open Source Electronic Health Record Agent (OSEHRA), http://www.osehra.org/.   

The replacement product must effectively perform VA’s scheduling-centric and scheduling-related legacy business functions. It must also demonstrate it can meet non-functional requirements including integration with multiple instances of VistA.[2]

Role of this Contest in Replacement of VA’s Medical Scheduling Software

This contest will achieve two significant goals in…

Read more