aspirations | atlas research 2013 annual report

The budget uncertainty that hung over the federal landscape in 2013 ultimately gave way to sequestration, followed in rapid succession by the shutdown of the government, the

furlough of nearly one million federal employees, and a wave of delayed and cancelled contract awards. These market-suppressing forces sapped the confidence of many firms across

the federal contracting community and led to wide-ranging retrenchment in the sector. As our partners and competitors braced for a new, more austere market reality, we saw an opportunity

to cement relationships with existing clients, who were coming under increasing pressure to do more with less. We built upon our solid reputation in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

market, and we continued to pursue a diversification strategy targeting key agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). With the benefit of sustained revenue growth, we invested in infrastructure and talent, and began making plans to enhance our business development systems. In

defiance of conventional wisdom of the times, we came to believe that our growth potential was more likely to be limited by our failure to invest in line with our aspirations than by external market forces alone. And that word, “aspiration,” became the Atlas watchword for 2013, embodying our vision for growth and the kind of work we wanted to do.

We aspired to support efforts to transform the U.S. health care system, exemplified in our work with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) to support the certification process for health plans offered in Federally-Facilitated Marketplaces for health insurance. We aspired to become a trusted partner with VA in its efforts to ensure that women Veterans receive the care they deserve by conducting comprehensive on-site evaluations of over 70 women’s health programs at VA medical centers nationwide. And we had the privilege of being selected by the VA to support three of its major initiatives aimed at preventing and ending homelessness among Veterans and their families. The pages that follow include examples of other important projects that speak to our aspirations to create lasting value for our clients.

The close of 2013 marked the fifth consecutive year in which we bested our previous year’s revenue, and we were humbled to be named to the Inc. 500/5000 List of Fastest Growing U.S. Companies. We continued to expand and diversify the range of contract vehicles we have accumulated in recent years, adding the Mission Oriented Business Integrated Services (MOBIS) contract under the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule, a research contract vehicle with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Qualitative Inquiry Methods to Understand Issues in HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment in the U.S.), and we expect additional noteworthy awards in 2014. With access to a total of 15 vehicles across our core markets, Atlas is able to offer clients a broad and expanding range of options to procure our services.

With a budget bill passed at the end of 2013, there is new and welcome budget clarity for the next two government buying seasons. And as the pendulum of federal acquisition strategy swings toward small business, we believe Atlas is strongly positioned for significant, sustained growth.

And that word, “aspiration,” became the Atlas watchword for 2013, embodying our vision for growth and the kind of work we wanted to do.

Ryung Suh, MD, MPH, MBA, MPPChief Executive Officer

Mark H. Chichester, JD President

2013 Annual Report 1

2 4 7Supporting Systems

TransformationOptimizing Organizational

PerformanceProviding Communications Strategy and Stakeholder

Engagement

Promoting Health Equity and Access to Care

Providing Mission-Critical Training Solutions

Working Together to Prevent and End Veteran

Homelessness

In the News 2013 Awards Atlas Leadership

10 12 14

20 23 24

Atlas Services Populations and Communities We Serve

26 28

www.atlasresearch.us2

SUPPORTING SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION

Bringing Innovation and Efficiency to CMS As a member of the MITRE Corporation-led Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) team supporting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Atlas was charged with developing an innovation model portfolio expansion plan. The plan included the identification of high-value, impactful models that lower health care costs, improve quality of care, increase efficiencies, and address performance gaps. The project involved multiple, integrated model teams that collaborated to create innovation model portfolio plans and new delivery and payment models. Atlas also supports design, development, and preparation for deployment of the new innovation models.

Protecting Consumers’ Access to Health Care Coverage and Accurate Information As a subcontractor to Duty First Consulting for

the CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO), Atlas was tasked with providing quality assurance and improvement

support to ensure that consumers have access to accurate information regarding health insurance market options. Atlas also supported issuer communications protocols with CMS oversight personnel. Facilitating Mobile Health Technologies that Advance Care for Veterans The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Connected Health Office contracted with Atlas and Booz Allen Hamilton to support efforts to transform care delivery and improve health care coordination through mobile health technology. The project supports the deployment of mobile health applications through the documentation of application requirements; study of user needs;

coordination of the lifecycle development process; and implementation of training, learning modules, and other resources. With Atlas’s help, VHA providers will have the

information they need to customize patient care to meet the unique requirements and preferences of each Veteran. n

With Atlas’s help, VHA providers will have the information they need to customize patient care to meet the unique requirements and preferences of each Veteran.

At a time when profound changes impact health care delivery and finance, Atlas is supporting health systems leaders in their efforts to adapt and respond with specially-tailored system design, change management, and process reengineering solutions.


Improving Care Coordination Between DoD and VAA top priority of the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) is achieving better coordination between the Defense Health Agency and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to improve the care experience of wounded, ill, and injured Service Members and Veterans. The Interagency Care Coordination Committee (IC3) is a joint effort between DoD and VA, established in response to a series of Congressional reviews that found that the dozens of Wounded Warrior programs run by DoD and VA required better harmonization and coordination of care delivery and benefits in order to reduce redundancies and improve patient outcomes. Atlas was

awarded a five-year contract to provide comprehensive support to the IC3, including standing up committee work groups; developing a comprehensive plan, policies, oversight structures, and communities of practice; and piloting a program to operationalize on a national scale. Atlas supports the activities of both the full committee and its work groups.

Improving Health Care for Women VeteransWhen VA sought a partner to perform comprehensive assessments of care delivery for women Veterans in the VA health system, VHA Women’s Health Services leadership turned to Atlas and Booz Allen Hamilton. The first charge to the team was to update and improve the benchmarking tool used to conduct the assessments. The Atlas team then undertook a systematic, facility-level review of women’s health programs, health care services (including primary, specialty, and mental health services), outreach efforts, communications and

OPTIMIZING ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

With federal agencies—those with health care and human services missions in particular—coming under increasing pressure to deliver work more efficiently and cost-effectively, Atlas offers clients the full spectrum of performance improvement services and tools.


collaboration, and patient-centeredness. Based on the assessments, the team compiles and analyzes data that informs actionable recommendations and identifies priority areas for enhancing VA’s delivery of care to women Veterans.

Improving Care Environments at VA Facilities NationwideIn 2013, Atlas supported VHA’s system-wide Continuous Survey Readiness program, which seeks to ensure the safety of the health care environment at VA facilities, including medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, community living centers, and behavioral health and home-based primary care programs. Atlas senior consultants worked with VHA providers and staff to improve understanding of, and compliance with, accreditation standards and processes through onsite consulting devoted to patient safety, quality management, leadership development, environment of care, and performance

improvement. They inform and train VA staff on accreditation standards, survey processes, national patient safety goals, core quality measures, and disease-specific certifications.

Evaluating IT tools to Meet Users’ Needs VHA has a reputation as a leader in the development and adoption of promising health information technology (IT) solutions. To assess the responsiveness of the growing array of deployed VHA IT tools to stakeholders’ needs, the agency’s Office of Health Information engaged Atlas, and its partners Performix and Booz Allen, to field customer satisfaction surveys that focus on both

Atlas senior consultants inform and train VA staff on accreditation standards, survey processes, national patient safety goals, core quality measures, and disease-specific certifications.

VA health professionals and Veterans. The first of these evaluation efforts is assessing the recent implementation of new clinical decision support tools involving diverse mobile devices, providers and care settings.

Resolving VA’s Legacy Workers’ Compensation ClaimsTo address a persistent backlog of workers’ compensation claims,

VHA engaged Atlas and Managed Care Advisors to develop and execute a series of protocols to manage and resolve legacy claims. Taking cues from

the Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Workers’ Compensation Program and in accordance with the Federal Employees Compensation Act, the team identified open cases on the DOL Periodic Rolls and others filed inside of the year prior that had not been monitored by VHA. By employing a prioritized case management strategy for VHA, Atlas was able to identify missing or deficient administrative and clinical documents, provide updated case management files for review, draft potential responses for VHA to offer to DOL for follow-up actions, and implement processes and communications with DOL to reduce administrative lag time in processing updated files. n


Supporting and Communicating the Strategic Vision of the Veterans Health Administration In 2013, Atlas provided strategic and focused change communications planning and support to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Communications, in partnership with

PROVIDING COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Atlas collaborates with clients to advance their organizational objectives by blending proven communications strategy with industry and operational expertise. At a time when public sector budget constraints and transformation imperatives conflate to present challenges that require effective engagement with internal and external stakeholders alike, Atlas has proven to be a reliable partner.


Booz Allen Hamilton, Carnevale Associates LLC, and Vocus. In response to a changing health care landscape and a larger, more diverse Veteran population, VHA leaders developed a five-year

strategic plan to evolve the culture of VA and embrace a more Veteran-centric approach to health care delivery. To socialize the strategic plan and engage with more than 239,000 employees at over 1,400 VA facilities across the country, Atlas developed an integrated communications campaign to

provide facility-level public affairs officers with collaborative tools and customizable templates to create cost-efficient, localized outreach strategies that focus on personal stories from staff and Veterans.

Atlas also supported day-to-day VHA communications by updating, maintaining, and creating content for a intranet site, developing annual communications plans and online outreach strategies, preparing leadership briefings, conducting communications research on employees’ information needs and preferences, drafting internal policies and procedures, and incorporating and validating process management and performance measures to improve office workflow structures. Tailored communications and engagement are supporting consistent, impactful messaging that aligns with the VHA strategic plan and reinforces VHA’s ongoing transformation to better serve Veterans.

Providing Communications Services to VA’s Office of Human Resources Management

By supporting the Strategic Communications and Outreach Service (SCOS)—the communications hub for VA’s Office

of Human Resources Management (OHRM)—Atlas and Deloitte Consulting helped the client advance

strategic goals, build brand awareness, and promote VA as an employer of choice. The Atlas team

assisted SCOS with the design, development, and execution of strategic communications

and brand guidelines, processes, procedures, and tools to position OHRM as an

integral enabler of VA’s transformational initiatives. Atlas supported SCOS in

aligning key stakeholders, defining and communicating a clear brand

compliant with VA’s directives, and arming SCOS with the

information needed to achieve goals, implement plans, and

support VA success.

Atlas developed an integrated communications campaign that provided facility-level public affairs officers with collaborative tools and customizable templates to create cost-efficient, localized outreach strategies that focus on personal stories from staff and Veterans.


Conducting Rural Community Outreach to Promote Mental Health First Aid From caregivers to health care providers to rural Veterans, Atlas is adroit at conducting outreach to a wide array of special populations and other hard-to-reach stakeholders. For example, Atlas received a contract from the Health Resources and Services Administration to conduct national outreach to rural communities, organizations, and other stakeholders to increase awareness of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), offer rural-specific training opportunities, and encourage community dialogue and collaboration. Many who suffer from mental health disorders do not seek or have access to professional help, and it can be all the more challenging for the 20 percent of Americans who live in rural areas. MHFA is an early intervention training program that teaches the public how to assist someone experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The Atlas project team worked closely with the National Council for Behavior Health, who create a new MHFA training program tailored for rural populations, and conducted outreach to more than 6,500 individuals, organizations, and media outlets nationwide.

For its work in support of the Veterans Health Administration, Atlas was honored as a recipient

of a 2014 Gold AVA Digital Award. The AVA Awards, sponsored and judged by the Association

of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), recognize creativity and achievement in

digital communications design, creation, production, and implementation. Atlas received the Gold Award for

developing elements of an online collaboration platform, which includes customizable templates, personalized stories, surveys, and communications toolkits.

Atlas Wins AMCP Gold Award for Digital Communications

Studying Patient/Provider Communication to Improve Care Good communication between health care providers and their patients can improve treatment quality and compliance. This communication includes the ability of a patient to share a health-related story, and the ability of the provider to listen and comprehend. Under a five-year contract with the Washington DC VA Medical Center, Atlas provides management and planning support for the Medical Center’s patient-centered care, training, and research initiatives. We are currently assisting with a narrative medicine pilot program that examines systems that record Veterans’ stories to share with their health care providers. The study examines storytelling conducted person-to-person and via telephone. Findings will inform improvements to the Medical Center’s patient-centered care practices. n


Implementing a Strategic National Plan to Reduce Health Disparities The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) established the National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities (NPA) to mobilize a comprehensive, community-driven approach to combating health disparities and to move the nation toward achieving health equity. Atlas and Altarum Institute were chosen to help OMH implement the NPA strategy

PROMOTING HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCESS TO CARE

Despite new technologies and medical advances that provide Americans the opportunity to live healthier and longer lives, well-documented health disparities affecting particular populations persist. Atlas partners with federal clients to promote equity and access at the national, regional, and local levels.


A 2012 Congressional Budget Office study found that between fiscal years 2004 and 2009 the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) spent $1.4 billion providing care to post-9/11 Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which amounted to almost half of the total cost of treating all post-9/11 Veterans during the same period. As part of ongoing efforts to explore more cost-effective and alternative treatment modalities for one of the signature wounds of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, VHA contracted an Atlas-led team to manage the pilot Transcendental Meditation (TM) training programs at VA medical centers in Minneapolis and Saginaw. The pilots are part of a wider study of the effectiveness of meditation in treating PTSD.

Studies have shown that in times of stress, trauma, illness, and loss, engaging in art as creative activity can promote healing, engender a positive outlook, and lift the spirits in the midst of great difficulty. Atlas, in partnership with the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA), was asked to implement a healing arts program at the Washington DC VA Medical Center’s Community Living Center. The Atlas-NCCA team provides project management, communications, event planning, and program evaluation support.

Exploring Alternative and Complementary Treatment Modalities

to build stakeholder capacity at the national, regional,

state, and local levels.

The team supports the

of a federal team that

consists of 12 federal agencies

and 20 offices within HHS and 10

regional councils comprised of experts

from private industry, community-based

organizations, state and local government,

and academia. The team managed the NPA

technical advisory group, drafted the implementation

strategy, performed targeted outreach functions,

and assisted OMH with the development of congressional reports detailing the NPA’s progress.

Engaging Young Adults to End Health Disparities

Atlas partnered with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities to implement strategies

specifically designed to facilitate effective youth engagement through the NPA. The team developed partnerships with relevant youth programs and health advocates to engage youth. Through webinars and town hall meetings, Atlas educates partners about the NPA and minority health issues. The team was also asked to develop a comprehensive Youth NPA curriculum, drawing on existing curricula around health disparities, to distribute to partners.

Understanding Barriers and Facilitators Experienced by HIV Care Providers The firm’s first Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) contract award came in 2013, when Atlas was one of just two firms to win a place on the Qualitative Inquiry Methods to Understand Issues in HIV Prevention, Care, and Treatment in the U.S. contract vehicle, the focus of which is to enhance HIV prevention, care, and treatment efforts in high-risk populations. The first task order called for a team of Atlas researchers to collect data through interviews, document reviews, and facility observations from HIV care providers in Washington, Atlanta, and Baltimore. n

The team supports the of a federal team that consists of 12 federal agencies and 20 offices within HHS and 10 regional councils comprised of experts from private industry, community-based organizations, state and local government, and academia.


PROVIDING MISSION-CRITICAL TRAINING SOLUTIONS

Responding to the Congressional Mandate to Train Veteran CaregiversThe U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Veteran Caregiver Training Program (NVCTP), mandated by the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, provides comprehensive assistance for those who provide care to the nation’s disabled Veterans and family caregivers of eligible post-9/11 Veterans. In 2013, Atlas teamed with Easter Seals to win a follow-on NVCTP contract to add to the community of more than 20,000 caregivers that the team has trained

Atlas provides mission support training solutions spanning curriculum development, instructional design, and evaluation, and offers the full spectrum of delivery modalities. Our services are distinguished by formal affiliations with leading academic institutions, where Atlas executives serve as faculty and direct academic programs.


to date. The training is delivered via classroom instruction, self-study, and a Web-based learning

management system. Caregivers learn about common issues and challenges that disabled Veterans face at home, and how

to work with their Veterans to create care plans to achieve healing goals, and promote wellness—for the caregivers and their families as well as their Veterans.

Enabling Proactive Public Relations Across the Veterans Health Administration Atlas provides training to a wide variety of stakeholders, including public relations professionals at each of VHA’s 152 medical centers and many of its program offices. Our training team provides ongoing training and technical assistance for nearly 300 public affairs officers as they collectively shift to the use of an online media monitoring and management tool (Vocus), effectively enabling proactive communications across VHA and allowing communicators to reach out to media regarding news that promotes VHA’s high-quality health care and services. n

Atlas executives hold faculty appointments at Georgetown University, where they examine critical issues in the transformation of the U.S. health system and actively engage in the development of the next generation of health systems leaders and consultants, teaching a diverse range of courses:

• Health Care Management Consulting

• Health Quality and Performance Improvement

• Health Systems and Policies

• Management Systems in Health Care Organizations

• Disruptive Innovations in Health Care

• Strategic Communications in Health Care

• Medical Technology

• Biohazardous Threat Agents

• Biotechnology Management

• Health Care Organization, Delivery, and Financing

Atlas at Georgetown

Atlas teamed with Easter Seals to add to the community of more than 20,000 caregivers that the team has trained to date.


WORKING TOGETHER TO PREVENT AND END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS

(PIT) count indicated that 57,849 Veterans are homeless on any given night. Nearly 1.5 million Veterans are considered at-risk of homelessness. Homelessness among Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan alone increased three-fold from 2009 to 2011. More than half of homeless Veterans have disabilities, serious mental illness, and substance abuse problems, underlining the need for integrated, pioneering treatment and prevention strategies.

Despite the challenge, communities across the country are developing promising solutions. Increased collaboration among local programs and federal agencies are implementing visionary solutions to prevent and end Veteran

Homelessness takes many forms. It is a public health crisis of great demographic reach, affecting a varied population of men and women from multiple generations in rural and urban areas.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Homelessness takes many forms. It is a public health crisis of great demographic reach, affecting a varied population of men and women from multiple generations in rural and urban areas. The issue is especially complex among Veterans, who are at greater risk of homelessness than their peers—12 percent of all homeless adults are Veterans. The January 2013 point-in-time

Atlas is privileged to support the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in pursuing the goal of preventing and ending Veteran homelessness through the promotion of recovery-oriented care and the development and dissemination of evidence-based policies, programs, and best practices.


homelessness. These initiatives work to rapidly rehouse Veterans and their families, and provide long-term solutions to a nationwide

problem. In 2009, VA announced its Plan to End Veteran Homelessness, a strategy to enhance partnerships across communities and organizations to facilitate integration at all levels of outreach and prevention. VA’s National Center

on Homelessness Among Veterans (NCHAV) spearheads the effort to harness innovative methods of eliminating homelessness in play around the country, ensuring that collaboration is at the core of evidence-based practices. National organizations like the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and community-driven projects have taken this challenge as an opportunity to develop inventive solutions, mobilizing local action for national results. Since 2009, Veteran homelessness has decreased 24 percent. As cities dramatically decrease the numbers of homeless Veterans or even eliminate Veteran homelessness, robust strategies for preventing homelessness in the general population emerge.

In 2013, Atlas assumed a critical role in the combined effort to prevent and end Veteran homelessness, helping to realize the VA plan’s promise. “Atlas is honored to engage in work with NCHAV and VA—it will take many and all of us contributing in whatever ways possible to reach this goal,” said Hilda R. Heady, senior

Veteran unemployment tends to be higher and longer-term than that of non-Veterans. The issue is compounded among homeless Veterans, who face additional barriers to employment. In order to fulfill its goal of eliminating

homelessness, VA employed Veteran Rehabilitation Specialists (VRSs) to provide supported employment services

to homeless Veterans. To prepare approximately 370 VRSs to serve other Veterans, Atlas, in partnership with Advocates

for Human Potential and Easter Seals, joined the effort to train the formerly homeless Veterans in evidence-based supported

employment principles and practices.

The VRSs were trained and mentored by 44 Atlas consultants at 152 VA medical centers nationwide. Through one-to-one assessment and tailored job services, the VRSs in turn train currently homeless Veterans to obtain and maintain employment in the community. The Atlas team guided each phase of training, conducting site visits to reinforce supported employment principles and focus on intensive hands-on development training. Atlas consultants also went with VRSs to local job sites to discuss employment opportunities for Veterans, and followed up on VRS activities.

Employment Training for Homeless Veterans

It will take many and all of us contributing in whatever ways possible to reach this goal.


vice president with Atlas. “We are proud to contribute what we can to improve the lives of Veterans and their families.” The following three projects are interlocking threads that contribute to independent living: permanent housing, competitive employment, and community integration. Across projects, Atlas provides consistent quality evaluation, technical assistance, and training to continually inform processes, strategic services, and communications products.

Local Initiatives, National ProgressWhile data systems are an integral part of understanding the Veteran homeless population, they are not universally applied or used. In order to better address risk factors, assess needed information, and monitor effectiveness and progress, the “25 Cities” initiative is developing comprehensive data management strategies to coordinate government and nonprofit agencies in preventing homelessness. As part of VA’s Plan to End Veteran Homelessness, the Atlas team channels community progress on housing homeless Veterans to improve federal, state, and community-based collaboration. Concentrating on the 25 cities with the highest per capita homeless Veteran populations that account for roughly 40 percent of homeless Veterans, the initiative unites local innovations with data-driven strategy. Key players in each community develop action plans for the city, leveraging partnerships with federal agencies, VA Medical Centers, and

stakeholders, determining target drawdown numbers and connecting Veterans to various supportive services. Atlas, in partnership with Community Solutions and Rapid Results Institute, is facilitating this rapid process by identifying resources and barriers, assisting in prioritizing need for housing and services, and tracking progress toward ending Veteran homelessness.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has joined forces with other federal partners to concentrate efforts in these cities. Before joining the integrated VA efforts, Atlas partners Community Solutions and Rapid Results Institute helped some communities double and triple the rate for housing homeless Veterans in 100-day spans. Building on the method developed by Rapid Results Institute and Community Solutions, this project focuses on strategies that are both community and data driven. Through this initiative, Atlas and partners will work with communities to either further or begin developing a standardized Coordinated Assessment and Housing Placement System, and build or expand a standardized performance management and communication platform for customized database solutions for tracking Veteran homelessness.


Building on local work allows innovative community strategies to inform national progress. 25 Cities is strengthening coordinated systems, determining appropriate interventions, and integrating data systems and VA support toward the goal of ending homelessness. Each community’s unique needs and resources are mobilized to create common goals and shared data to prevent and end homelessness across the Veteran population and nationwide.

Benefits Assistance Support Services (BASS) for At-Risk and Homeless Veterans Where can Veterans go to find all the resources available to them? Extending its commitment to use current technology to supply preventative measures, VA is targeting the current landscape of

homelessness with a unique mobile application (app). By combining this technology with

targeted social work knowledge, Atlas, Advocates for Human

Potential, Binary Group, Inc., and Single

Stop are building a mobile app to provide VA with a support system that aggregates all mainstream (non-VA) resources to assist social workers and

case managers to help Veterans apply for benefits.

Available on desktop, laptop, and mobile devices, the mobile app connects to state, federal, and local resources, streamlining the process of determining eligibility

and enrollment. Once a Veteran is screened at a VA Medical Center, the tool provides social workers with information on the federal, state, and local non-VA benefits and services for which the individual is eligible. Working directly with community providers and stakeholders, partner Single Stop is identifying benefits to overcome barriers to care and prevention.

“The VA’s efforts to eliminate homelessness among Veterans are not only commendable, but inspiring, because of the impact they will have on homelessness in general,” comments Eniola Okeowo, BASS project manager. The effort is “a meaningful opportunity to take part in an innovative means to accomplish VA’s goals.”

The BASS tool is designed to provide social workers and their Veteran clients with information

instantly. Prior hurdles of lengthy forms, restricted hours, and required

documentation will no longer be a threat to accessing care for

at-risk and homeless Veterans. To

Prior hurdles of lengthy forms, restricted hours, and required documentation will no longer be a threat to accessing care for at-risk and homeless Veterans.


Housing First is an evidence-based model of homelessness prevention that views housing as a catalyst for recovery. With the collaboration of

community members, chronically homeless Veterans are

placed in stable housing and enroll

in other service programs as

their needs are assessed. Identified by VA as the most effective strategy for preventing the problem,

this principle informs the

implementation of VA’s Five-Year Plan

to End Homelessness among Veterans. As part

of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

(HUD) VA Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), the Housing First model has greatly reduced time to housing placement, increased retention rates, and positively affected the quality of life for Veterans experiencing homelessness.

Along with Advocates for Human Potential and Pathways to Housing, Atlas provided advisory and technical assistance services to the VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5), working with leadership and homeless program specialists to train HUD-VASH case managers in adopting the Housing First approach. The Atlas team conducted training at the Baltimore, Martinsburg, Washington, DC, and Perry Point VA Medical Centers.

Housing First Advisory and Technical Assistance Services - Focus on Prevention

supplement the tool, partner Advocates for Human Potential (AHP) is developing supplemental program materials, user manuals, and educational forms to support use.

Supportive Services for Veterans and Families (SSVF)Homelessness among Veterans is a multifaceted issue. Since 2010, VA has offered grants to community-based organizations helping Veterans in or transitioning to permanent homes as well as a spectrum of services. With housing as the first priority, SSVF grantees also connect Veterans and their families with outreach, case management, and financial assistance services, along with referrals to benefits and services.

Atlas received a contract from VA’s SSVF program office to monitor grant performance and ensure compliance with program regulations and guidance, and support evidence-based homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing best practices. Partners AHP, Abt Associates, and Technical Assistance Collaborative have trained monitors to aid community organizations nationwide in championing VA’s goal of eliminating Veteran homelessness.

The Atlas team’s monitoring work continues to build on innovative community-wide strategies focused on Veterans. Local populations are the center of each SSVF grant, sparking wider collaboration and creative solutions. Atlas is furthering program success by helping FY2014 grantees succeed from the start, guaranteeing compliance with SSVF requirements. With an approach informed by best practices, technical assistance expertise, and grantee feedback, the SSVF program is building connections between communities and furthering Veteran-centered outreach. n


Atlas Supports Winterhaven Stand Down for DC-Area Homeless VeteransFor the fourth consecutive year, Atlas supported the Winterhaven Homeless Stand Down event at the Washington DC VA Medical Center, held in January. The full-day program offered health screenings, housing and employment counseling, dental exams, free food, and clothing to homeless and at-risk Veterans from the Metropolitan Area.

Atlas donated 250 new coats that were distributed to homeless Veterans who attended the event. Winterhaven is supported by more than 70 government and community groups. It is a part of a proactive and multifaceted VA initiative to end Veteran Homelessness.

Atlas Names Anne Altman to Advisory BoardAnne Altman of IBM recently joined the Atlas

corporate advisory board. Ms. Altman is general manager of IBM U.S. Federal

Government and Industries. In this role, she is responsible for the strategy, direction, development of solutions, and sales for driving IBM’s multi-billion dollar business with federal government clients in the

United States.

Known as a transformational leader, she has often been tapped

to address complex business challenges within IBM and on behalf of clients. Most notably, she helped establish IBM’s footprint


as a major force in the U.S. federal market. She has delivered congressional testimony on behalf of IBM on topics ranging from national security, technology in the military and intelligence communities, “smarter” government, intelligent transportation, cloud computing, business analytics software, the role of innovation to drive economic growth, and government research and development.

Atlas Awarded GSA Mission Oriented Business Integrated Services (MOBIS) Contract Atlas was awarded the Mission Oriented Business Integrated Services (MOBIS) contract under the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule. This contract vehicle allows federal customers to

procure consulting, training, and program and project management services directly from the award-winning consulting firm. Through the GSA MOBIS program, Atlas can provide a full range of services, including management consulting, training, and program and project management services.

“The MOBIS contract award is an important milestone for the firm, as it extends our ability to support our growing number of diverse federal clients,” said Atlas President Mark H. Chichester. “MOBIS enables federal clients to quickly and efficiently engage with us while ensuring they receive high-quality and competitively-priced services.”

Atlas Joins Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) Leadership Committee Atlas is proud to support the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) as a Freedom Sponsor and through representation on the organization’s Honor Guard Gala leadership committee. TAPS is a nonprofit organization offering compassion, comfort, and care to the thousands of family members coping with the death of a loved one who served in the military or supported a military mission. TAPS helps surviving families cope and heal in the aftermath of their loss through a variety of programs, including a national peer support network, the annual National Survivor Seminar, Good Grief Camps, grief and trauma resources, and a toll-free 24-hour helpline.

Ryung Suh Named President of American Association for Public Health PhysiciansAtlas CEO Ryung Suh, MD, was named president of the American Association for Public Health Physicians. The AAPHP is a non-profit medical specialty society dedicated to promoting public health and prevention services and advocating on behalf of public health physicians. As president, Dr. Suh represents the AAPHP regionally and nationally and serves as chairperson of the AAPHP executive committee. Additionally, he works closely with the Association’s volunteers and staff on activities and initiatives in support of the organization’s mission.

Mark H. Chichester Elected to GWU

Board of Trustees Mark H. Chichester, co-founder and president of Atlas, was elected to The George Washington

University Board of Trustees for a four-year

term.

The George Washington University is served by 43 members of the Board of Trustees, including the president of the university, who serves as an ex officio member. The Board of Trustees plays an integral role in oversight of fiscal, academic, and campus operations. In addition, the trustees provide leadership in developing the university’s endowed resources and participate actively in it’s strategic initiatives.

“I am honored by the invitation to join the group of members who serve on this board, and excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the life and future direction of so fine an institution as GW,” said Mr. Chichester. “There is disruptive change coming to the higher education landscape, and to be able to lend a hand to one’s alma mater in translating those challenges into opportunities I count as a great privilege.”


Greg Smallwood Receives Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Atlas Research Operations Manager Greg Smallwood, a Marine who recently transitioned from active duty to inactive reserves, has been awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal from the Wounded Warrior Regiment.

The Commendation Medal is a United States military decoration presented since 1943 to service members for their sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Staff Sergeant Smallwood is recognized for enabling the successful transition of more than 50 wounded, ill, or injured Marines in their transition out of the Marine Corps or back to duty.

Mr. Smallwood, who served as a Marine from 2005 to 2013, received the recognition during a special ceremony attended by family members and Atlas employees. The medal was presented by CEO Ryung Suh, MD, a detachment surgeon of the U.S. Army Reserve Consequence Management Unit, and Vice President Deb McKay, a retired captain of the U.S. Navy.

Atlas CEO Ryung Suh a Featured Speaker at Public Health Congressional Briefing Atlas CEO Ryung Suh, MD, was a featured speaker at a congressional briefing on public health June 20th at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center. The briefing, “Public Health 101: Health is All Around You,” included a discussion of the intersection of public health and military readiness, education, public safety, and industry.

Dr. Suh was joined by Naomi Adler, president

and CEO of the United Way of Westchester and Putnam; David Johnson, senior vice president of the Employee Benefits Division at RCM&D; and Jim Parsons, director of the VERA Institute for Justice Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Program.

The briefing, organized by the Coalition for Health Funding, attracted more

than 80 attendees representing congressional staff and members of the public health advocacy community.

Atlas Research Experts Write, Edit New Textbook on Data and

Outcomes Research Atlas Research CEO Ryung Suh, MD,

Senior Vice President Jason Ormsby, PhD, and Senior Fellow Brent Gibson, MD,

authored several chapters in Reliability and Validity Of Data Sources For Outcomes Research & Disease And Health Management Programs, a new textbook published through the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. Intended for practitioners, payers, decision makers, and students, the textbook discusses data sources, methodologies, challenges, and strategies in conducting real-world outcomes research. Dr. Suh served as section editor for Part 2: Electronic Health Records and authored several chapters with Drs. Ormsby and Gibson in addition

to other leading experts in the field.

Hilda Heady Publishes New Journal Article on Rural Veteran Barriers, Problems, and Needs A journal article co-authored by Hilda Heady was published

in the May/June 2013 issue of Health

Progress. “Rural Vets: Their Barriers, Problems, Needs”

identifies evolving population trends, including the aging of rural Veterans, the growing number of female Veterans, and


Gold Award for Digital Communications

Association of Marketing and Communication

Professionals

Inc 500|5000 Top 50 fastest growing

private companies in Washington, DC

Inc.

American Graphic Design Award for

the 2012 Atlas Annual Report

Graphic Design USA

rates of homelessness among Veterans, which place significant demands on Veterans Affairs and rural delivery systems. The authors discuss how coordination among health care providers is essential to increasing the availability of services and expanding Veteran outreach programs.

Ria Shields Featured in Rural Roads Magazine Atlas consultant Ria (Muttukumaru) Shields was featured in the Spring 2013 issue of Rural Roads Magazine. The article, Mental Health

First Aid Offers New Rural-Focused Curriculum, details mental health training opportunities and resources, as well as the referral services and national outreach being conducted by the Atlas project team.

Mental Health First Aid is an early intervention program that educates the public on how to assist someone experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The training is especially useful in rural communities where access to mental health services may be limited.


Jamie Hart, PhD, MPHExecutive Vice President

Jason Ormsby, PhD, MBA, MHSASenior Vice President and Chair of the Health Quality and Information Technology Group

Hilda R. Heady, MSW, ACSWSenior Vice President and Chair of the Rural Health Research and Policy Group

Keith Phillips, MSSenior Vice President, Enterprise Transformation

Marie Minier, MBASenior Vice President, Operations Jeffery A. Baetz, PMPVice President, Regulatory Affairs

Kate Lynch MachadoVice President, Business Development and Contracts

Deborah McKay, RN, MSVice President, Veteran and Military Health Services

Wendy Opsahl, PhDVice President, Communications

Joy ParkVice President, Operations

Holly L. Freedlander, MBA, CPAController

Ryung Suh, MD, MPH, MBA, MPPChief Executive Officer

Mark H. Chichester, JDPresident

Principals

Management Team


Anne K. Altman General Manager, Federal Government and Industries, IBM Corporation

Robert Carr, MD, MPH, FACPMSenior Vice President and Corporate Medical Director, GlaxoSmithKline

Nicholas Donofrio, MSFellow Emeritus and Executive Vice President, Innovation and Technology, IBM (retired)

Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, JD, MPAPresident Emeritus, The George Washington University (Chairman)

John F. ‘Skip’ Williams, Jr., MD, EdDPresident, State University New York Downstate Health Sciences Center

Julie Anbender

Kenneth Clark, JD, MHA

Fr. Rick Curry, SJ, PhD

Caitlin Cusack, MD

James Farsetta, MBA

Sue Flanagan

Sanford M. Garfunkel, FACHE

Brent Gibson, MD, MPH

John Gilmore, MBA, PMP

Brian Hurley

John Jacocks, MD, MTM&H (COL, ret)

Patricia C. Lewis (Brigadier General, ret)

William Oetgen, MD, MBA, FACP, FACC

Jeannette Post, MD

Ann Potter, RN

Paul Rader, MH, FACHE

Kyungsun Suh, PhD

Hugh Tilson, MD, DrPH, MPH

Siobhan Wescott, MD, MPH

Jay Wolfson, DrPh, JD

Advisory Board

Senior Fellows

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Curriculum design

• Instruction and training delivery

• Meeting and event support/logistics

HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT

• Survey readiness

• Clinical training

• Quality measurement and performance improvement

• Workforce analysis and planning

ENTERPRISE TRANSFORMATION

• Business process reengineering/lean six sigma

• Organizational design and restructuring

• Shared services

• Change management

• Performance management/measures and metrics development

26 www.atlasresearch.us

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

• Strategy and tactics development, implementation, and measurement

• Public relations/community outreach

• Graphic and web design/development

• Writing, editing, and content organization

• Knowledge translation

• Branding

• Stakeholder engagement

RESEARCH, STUDIES, AND ANALYSES

• Design and administration of surveys, focus groups, and interviews

• Policy analysis

• Evaluation and assessment

• Clinical trials

• Pilot programs

• IRB and OMB procedures

PLANNING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FACILITATION

• Capacity and consensus building

• Cross-system planning

• Facilitation

• Strategic planning

• Technical assistance

272013 Annual Report


INFA

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MEN

ACTIVE

DUTY

MIL

ITARY

AGING A

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END OF

LIFE

HOMELESS

HEALTH CARE

PROVIDERS

RACIAL AND

ETHNIC MINORITIES

RURAL COMMUNITIES

HEALTH CARE

EXECUTIVES

VETE

RAN

S

HIGHER EDUCATION

FACULTY AND LEADERSHIP

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES


U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs• Care Management and Social

Work Services• National Center on

Homelessness Among Veterans• Office of Human Resources

Management• Office of Policy and Planning• Office of Rural Health• Interagency Care Coordination

Committee, Office of the Secretary

• Office of Management• Office of Mental Health Services• Veterans Health Administration

- Connected Health Office - Homeless Program Office - Office of Communications - Women’s Health Services

• VBA/DoD Program Office• VISNs 5, 16, and 23• VA Medical Centers in

Washington DC, Buffalo, Salisbury, Martinsburg, and Sioux Falls

Commercial/Non-Profit• Commission on Accreditation

of Healthcare Management Education

• Deloitte Center for Health Solutions

• Precision for Medicine• Raytheon• University of Michigan Health

System• United Service Organizations• West Virginia State Legislature

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services• Agency for Healthcare Research

and Quality• Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention• Centers for Medicare &

Medicaid Services - Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation

- Center for Consumer Information and Oversight

• Health Resources and Services Administration

• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

• Office of Adolescent Health• Office of Minority Health• Office of Population Affairs• Office of Rural Health Policy• Office of Special Health Affairs• Secretary’s Advisory Committee

on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

U.S. Department of Defense• Air Force Medical Service• Joint Program Executive Office

for Chemical and Biological Defense

U.S. Department of Labor• Women’s Bureau

DUNS: 82-756-0744

NAICS: 541310, 541330, 541519, 541611, 541612, 541613, 541614, 541618, 541690, 541711, 541712, 541720, 541990, 561499, 611430, 621330, 621498, 624229, 624310

A Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business

ATLAS RESEARCH202.717.8710www.atlasresearch.us

805 Fifteenth Street, NW, Suite 910Washington, DC 20005

Effective in June 2014, Atlas’s new corporate headquarters are located at 805 Fifteenth Street Northwest, Suite 910 in downtown Washington, DC.

aspirations | atlas research 2013 annual report

Documents

department of health

health insurance

health plans

health programs

health care system

range of contract vehicles

va medical centers

human services hhs