Manila Outpatient Clinic - VAMC page

[mmiddaugh]

Issue Description

We need to determine what changes will be needed from the usual VAMC page design/flow to provide a meaningful and relevant online experience for Veterans cared for at the Manila Outpatient clinic.

Manila specifics

• Usual VAMC hierarchy is a system with associated locations. Manila is a single facility.
• The VA Manila Outpatient Clinic is the only VA healthcare facility located in a foreign country and is located on U.S. Embassy property.
• They do not have a Public Affairs Officer (PAO)
• "U.S. Veterans residing in or visiting the Philippines may receive care and services for a Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) adjudicated service-connected disability at the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic. A service-connected Veteran may be treated for non-service-connected disabilities within the limits of the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic. Follow up services that are directly related to the treatment of non-service-connected disabilities, which VA has determined are beyond the capabilities of the clinic, will be the Veteran’s responsibility, to include obtaining services and paying for all costs related to treatment. Inpatient and Non-VA Care (NVC) is limited to treatment of service connected conditions and is provided through the Foreign Medical Program. U.S. Veterans living in the Philippines are advised to enroll in both the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic and the Foreign Medical Program. "(VHA Directive 1521 and Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1724)
• No caregiver coordinator (but they do have patient advocate)
• Manila benefit fact sheet

Questions

• Do they use online scheduling?
• Who will maintain/create?
• Do they have a need for stories/events/news?
• What are top tasks for Veterans?
• What do Veterans need to know to prepare to visit?
• Is Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) relevant? (linked from Embassy page)

Current experience

• Existing page
• US Embassy page

Product documentation

https://github.com/department-of-veterans-affairs/va.gov-team/tree/master/products/facilities/medical-centers/initiatives/2024-manila

[davidmpickett]

@kmariepat-cityfriends @mmiddaugh @davidconlon Now that Lovell has launched, is it time to start thinking about this?

[kmariepat-cityfriends]

Moving to prioritized to refinement only for my visibility to ask the question of @mmiddaugh and @davidconlon if they don't respond on this card beforehand

[davidmpickett]

Notes from latest VHA DM sync copied for visibility:

Manila VA clinic page is within VISN 21's website, which will be redirected to the new VISN site at the end of the month.

• this page is still has COVID-era details
• No PAO - who will be responsible for creating/maintaining content? The VISN 21 web editor (Justin confirmed)
• FL detail page does exist, Facility will still be findable in the locator.
• Manila Regional Office (VBA): co-located in the embassy

Considerations

• Usual VAMC hierarchy is a system with associated locations. Manila is a single facility.
• The VA Manila Outpatient Clinic is the only VA healthcare facility located in a foreign country and is located on U.S. Embassy property
• Different eligibility/criteria for receiving care: A Veteran must have a VA-rated service-connected disability specific to the medical condition they are seeking treatment for to receive services from the Manila VA Outpatient Clinic.
• Different required health services (i.e. they do not have a caregiver coordinator)
• Enrollment is different: When application is received, it’s reviewed and eligibility is determined
• VA_Manila_Benefits_Fact_Sheet.pdf includes services available/excluded
• Veterans Living Overseas (va.gov)

Only VAMC without a modernized page.

• VISN site moving to Wordpress at the end of the month.
• Facility with no system, doesn’t follow the standard hierarchy.
• Managing their data / template:
• The VBA template may work. Can we even use a VAMC template without a System in place
• They operate like a big clinic.
• We don’t want to require data entry into fields that aren’t relevant for them.

Timing:

• not possible by the end of the month. But priority = high

Accurate data:

• If hours, address, services are not accurate, that needs to be updated in VAST.