VA Virtual Learning, Veterans Health Administration

The VHA Office of Special Projects created the Virtual Learning Center, a Web site now used by the entire Veterans Affairs Department, to help bring the practical experience of longtime employees into an environment where others could benefit. "Our concept was to systematize the sharing of informal knowledge," says Nancy Thompson, the office's associate director.

The site offers employees a place to share success stories and lessons learned. It also enables them to pose questions to their peers about how to solve problems. The site supports more than 40 communities of practice, where individuals working in specific disciplines, such as patient safety, come together to share documents and exchange ideas.

The site's next step may be to help bridge the gap between the medical communities at the VA and the Defense Department.