The Department of Veterans Affairs is a semi-finalist for the “Innovations in Government” award from Harvard University for an organizational ethics program.
“This honor is a tribute to the men and women who care for our sick and injured veterans, and to VA’s health care system, which is leading the industry in so many sectors,” said Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. “In VA, we view ethics as an integral part of health care services to Veterans, which helps define VA’s health care excellence in the 21st century.”
VA’s ethics program, officially known as Integrated Ethics, is a practical and comprehensive model for organizational ethics that was developed by VA’s National Center for Ethics in Health Care. In 2007, the IE was implemented at 152 VA medical centers and 21 regional networks across the country.
The annual award for excellence and creativity in the public sector is sponsored by Harvard University’s Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Kennedy School of Government.
The top 25 programs were selected from approximately 500 entries. In the fall, five finalists and one winner of the Innovations in Government award will be announced.
