What is centralized content?

In order to standardize the experience and information for Veterans across VAMC websites, we use a tool called Centralized content, which places control of certain VAMC content in the hands of a smaller group of editors. 

For the VAMC product, there are four parts of the Veteran experience that contain Centralized content:

• Billing and insurance
• Medical records office
• Register for care
• Policies

This screenshot of the  Billing and insurance page from VA Maryland health care illustrates what content is centralized vs locally managed.

Who can edit Centralized content for VAMCs?

An editor must be a member of the Centralized content: VAMC section to have access. Currently, these are members of VHA Digital Media.

How to find and edit Centralized content for VAMCs

Go to the listing of Centralized content for VAMC and find the content and find the standardized content you want to change. You can also find Centralized content on the Manage > Content page, by filtering for "Centralized content", although that will reveal Centralized Content from products other than VAMC.

From the list of Centralized content, find and edit the node the relevant node.

Each field has a label that indicates what part of the Veteran experience, for each type of Centralized Content, is at play. 

You may want to open a live version of the relevant page on VA.gov, to help you assess what how the content will impact the 140 localized versions. 

Content moderation

Centralized content uses the same Draft ➡️ In review ➡️ Published ➡️ Archived workflow that all other content on VA.gov CMS uses. The changes you make to Centralized content will only show on the finished pages on VA.gov if your revision is published.

How to request larger changes to Centralized content

Editors with access to editing Centralized content can only make changes to existing content blocks on the page. They may not add new content blocks, such as tables, react widgets, or images. To request new content blocks be added, contact the product team.