Case study · Government
VA-IDES: critical thinking applied to big-data processes
Lean Six Sigma and predictive analytics that cut reporting cycles by 60% for a caseload of up to 35,000 service members.
The challenge
Background
The Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) is a Department of Defense program administered with help from the Department of Veterans Affairs. It evaluates a service member’s fitness for duty and eligibility for DoD and VA disability compensation and benefits. VA is responsible for four of the eight core processes: claims development, medical examination, proposed rating, and VA benefits.
IDES is meant to be seamless, transparent, less adversarial, and faster, with a single medical exam and single-source disability rating. But there was limited documentation of the end-to-end process, and no clear definition of how its major parts connected to the data the team had to analyze.
Our approach
What DuraBante did
Our support ranged from daily monitoring of IDES performance metrics to preparing VA executives for congressional testimony, GAO inquiries, and Secretarial-level status updates, with stakeholders across all VA Regional Offices, all VISNs, VBA, VHA, DoD, and the Military Departments.
Managed a massive caseload
Technical, analytical, and process improvement support for the integrated DoD and VA IDES process, with a caseload as high as 35,000 service members.
Mapped the process end to end
Defined and documented a SIPOC-RC and a level-three process map of the entire process.
Applied predictive analytics
Statistical and predictive analysis, forecasting, and data visualization to develop, refine, monitor, and report on performance metrics for VA decision makers.
Reduced reporting errors
Used existing systems to identify database issues, reduce metric reporting errors, and automate routines with macros.
Outcome
Results
- Reporting cycle reduced from over 10 business days to under 4 (a 60% reduction).
- More accurate, timely information for data-driven decisions at the highest levels of the federal government.
- The IDES Program Office eliminated process constraints, cutting average processing from over 400 days to under its 295-day goal (a 36% reduction).
- Significantly less human error through automated routines and macros.
- Process mapping completed in under a month, giving the team a clear “as-is” picture, where the data lived, and a basis for better metrics.
Looking for a teaming partner?
DuraBante is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business with a proven federal track record. Alicia Hinds, VP of Government Growth, will respond directly.