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onboarding

Welcome to your VA rotation! Review the following before your first rotation as well as the first time you log into CPRS to ensure that you have the correct access. We are excited to have you join us!

required forms

VA Registration Form

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PIV-0711 Form

Fingerprinting

You need to get fingerprinted and have your photo taken before rotating at the VA for access to the computer and EMR. To be fingerprinted and photographed you can either:

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A. Walk in - at the DC VA Medical Center (50 Irving St NW) on Friday's from 7am-11:45am. Please let us know if you are planning on walking in so that we can ensure the badging office has all of the forms.

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B. Schedule an appointment - this can be done at either the DC VA Medical Center (50 Irving St NW) or the Central VA Office (425 I St NW). This can be scheduled at va-piv.com.

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Please note that for either option, you need to bring two forms of ID and at least one with a photo. The types of acceptable IDs are listed to the right.

how to get a piv

Once you are fingerprinted, you will need to have your photo taken. It takes approximately 48 hours for your fingerprints to clear. Once these two steps are completed, you will be able to get a PIV. To get your PIV you can either:

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A. Walk in - at the DC VA Medical Center (50 Irving St NW) on M-F during normal business hours. You must let us know if you are planning on walking in ONE WEEK in advance so we can make arrangements.

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B. Schedule an appointment - this can be done at the DC VA Medical Center (50 Irving St NW) ONLY. This can be scheduled at va-piv.com.

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Please note that for either option, you need to bring two forms of ID and at least one with a photo. The types of acceptable IDs are listed to the right. You will likely not be able to pick up the ID at the photo appointment but will have to return at a later time to retrieve it once it has been printed.

Accepted forms of ID

State-issued drivers license

State DMV-issued ID card

U.S. passport

Military ID card

U.S. Coast Guard Merchant marine card

Foreign passport with appropriate stamps (i.e. active visa)

Permanent resident card or alien registration card with photograph (INS form I-151/I-551)

ID card issued by federal or state government

Social security card

Certified birth certificate

State voter registration card

Native American Tribal document

Certificate of US Citizenship

Certificate of Naturalization

Certificate of birth abroad issued by the Department of State

Permanent or Temporary resident card

ID card issued by local government with name, DOB, gender, height, eye color, and address

Non-photo ID card by federal and state gov't with above information

School ID with photograph

Canadian drivers license

US citizen ID card (Form I-179)

how to get a piv exemption

If you don't have a PIV you can still start your rotation, but you will need a PIV exemption to login to the computer. On your first day, to get a PIV exemption you call IT Local number x58129.

logging into cprs

Before your first day, you should receive login codes from the chiefs. Your CPRS login codes are called VistA/CPRS and include a temporary password which you change when your first login.

making an e-signature

You must make an e-signature to be able to sign any orders on CPRS. This is done by choosing Tools >> Utilities >> Create e-signature.

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Adding Notes to favorites

This will help you to easily start new notes, so that you don't have to search every time you start a note.

Under the “Tools” Menu, click “Options,” then the “Notes” tab. Click the “Document Titles” button. We recommend the following frequently used note types:

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  • Admission History and Physical

  • Med: Inpatient Progress Note

  • Med: Inpatient Cross Cover Note

  • Med: Discharge Progress Note (can be used on the patient’s last day if being discharged  in the morning)

  • Med: Fall Medical Assessment and Intervention Note

  • Universal Protocol Note – Physician

  • Universal Protocol Note – Time Out

  • Central Line Insertion Note

  • Discharge Instructions Part A

  • Discharge Instructions Part B

  • Code Blue: Medicine Note

  • Rapid Response Team (RRT) Physician Note

CPRS basics

CPRS is the EMR that is used by all the VA nationwide. It was first created in the 1980s and so has a few quirks that you will quickly learn and adapt to. It has all of the functionality of the EMRs at your home institutions as well as the ability to do much more. During your in-person orientation, you will get a primer on CPRS and important tools to use every day, but in the meantime you can refer to these YouTube videos for a preview.

Remote Access to CPRS - Click Here for Directions
Parking

​There are a few ways to park at the VA:

  1. Employee Parking Garage - requires a PIV for entrance. On your first day bring a copy of your drivers license, registration, insurance, and this vehicle registration form to the VA police office in the basement (GE-270). They will activate your badge to enter the garage.

  2. Parking lot near Building 6 - this often fills up very quickly, you show your ID to the police officer at the front entrance and drive past the patient parking to the back of the hospital

  3. Soldier's Home - see the following map on how to get to the Soldier's Home. A shuttle runs every 10-15 minutes between the Soldier's Home and the VA Medical Center​

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