Lorain 1 VA Mobile Medical Unit: Name Change Guide

Navigating the VAMC Facility Name Change: Lorain 1 VA Mobile Medical Unit

Hey guys, this is a comprehensive guide to walk you through the VAMC Facility name change process, specifically for the Lorain 1 VA Mobile Medical Unit (formerly known as the Cleveland East Boulevard 3 VA Mobile Clinic). This is a step-by-step breakdown of what's involved, ensuring a smooth transition and keeping everything up-to-date. The goal is to provide a seamless experience for veterans accessing information about their healthcare. We will cover everything from initial confirmations to final checks.

Preliminary Steps and Confirmations

First off, before we dive in, a crucial note: all name changes for the three Northeast Ohio Mobile Medical Units are complete, as there was no need for a URL redirect. Now, let's talk about the key preliminary steps. Before anything else, the name change must be confirmed. The first step involves checking if the new name is correctly displayed as the main header on the VAMC Facility homepage in Drupal. You'll need to go to the Flagged Facilities page to check if the change has appeared in the CMS. A crucial part of this process is confirmation from an editor or VA stakeholder.

If the name change is flagged but not confirmed, you'll need to send a "Name Change Confirmation" email to all active editors within the facility's section. This template (provided in the original document) helps ensure everyone is on the same page. Now, what if it's confirmed but not yet flagged? In this case, you need to ask the editor if they have reported the intended name change to VAST (Veteran Affairs Shared Technology). Remember that changes made within VAST can take up to 75 days to appear in the Facilities API. You can find more information in the KB article, “How do I update my VAMC Facility's Basic Location Data?” This is essential because VAST is the system of record for facility data, and any changes must propagate from there. This is important to ensure all the backend systems are synchronized, and the data is consistent across all VA platforms. This helps prevent any confusion among users and maintain the integrity of the information.

Detailed Steps for Implementation

Now, let’s move on to the actual implementation steps. These are the things the Embedded Support team and Drupal Administrators need to do. First, confirm that the new title is displayed as the main H1 header on the VAMC Facility homepage in Drupal. The next step is to create a URL redirect request ticket, which is found in the original document. However, in this case, it's not needed. After that, we go to Drupal Administrator steps. It's best to do these in one session to ensure all changes are published together in the next content release. The first step in this phase is Facility homepage edits. Go to the VAMC Facility node on production. Click "Edit" and locate the following fields: Page Introduction, Meta Description, and Menu Link Title. The Page Introduction must be updated if it mentions the old facility name. Then, you'll update the Meta Description. Scroll to the end and add "formerly known as [previous name]." Update the Menu Link Title with the new facility name.

Updating URL Alias and Menu

Next, let’s focus on the URL alias and menu updates. While editing the facility homepage, scroll down to the URL alias field. Delete the current URL alias and check "Generate automatic URL alias." Then, click "Publish" to save changes. Don't change the moderation state. Moving on to the VAMC System "Locations" menu update. Find the associated VAMC System and click "Edit menu." Find the "Locations" menu header and ensure the new facility name is listed per VA system design standards. Medical centers are listed first, then clinics, both in alphabetical order. If the clinic is in the wrong spot, click and drag the four-pointed arrow to move it. Once complete, save the changes. These menu updates are essential for user navigation. Ensure the new facility name appears in the "Locations" menu. Keep in mind that we always list medical centers first, and then clinics.

Further Steps: Photos and Bulk Editing

The next step is updating the facility photo alt-text. Go to Content -> Media and search for the former name of the facility to locate the homepage photo. Update the title and alt text with the new facility name. Click Save. Now, to the bulk editing process. Go to the Bulk Edit page, filter by section, moderation state = "Any," and search for the former name of the VAMC Facility. Select all relevant nodes and use the "Action" menu to update the URL alias and re-save content. Filtering by section helps avoid selecting nodes linked to the wrong facility. The alt text update improves SEO and accessibility. Remember, it's very important to keep the information consistent across all the platforms to avoid confusion and maintain data integrity. The last step is verifying the URL alias, menu link breadcrumbs, left-nav "Locations" menu link, and VAMC Facility Health Services are updated accordingly after the next content release. These steps ensure that all links and references to the facility are updated consistently.

Final Verification and Notifications

Once the URL redirect ticket is completed (if needed), verify the redirect by going to the old URL. If not redirected, do not proceed. Go to the facility homepage, click "Edit," scroll to the bottom to remove the "Changed name" flag. Then, notify the associated VAMC system editor(s) and stakeholders by sending the "Name Change Complete" email template. This ensures everyone is aware of the change and that the system is fully updated. The goal is to provide a seamless experience for veterans accessing information about their healthcare. By following these steps, you will ensure a smooth transition and maintain the accuracy of the information provided to veterans. The final verification is an important step to ensure the changes have been implemented across all aspects of the website and that everything works correctly.

Key Takeaways

In summary, the VAMC Facility name change process involves several key steps: Confirmations, homepage edits, URL alias updates, menu adjustments, photo updates, and bulk editing. Remember to always keep the menu up to date and make sure that all the links are working and point to the correct destination. These ensure veterans can easily find the information they need. And there you have it, a complete guide to changing the name. Good luck, and thanks for helping!