Freedom Of Information Act
The VISTA software is available to the public under a law called the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Although some portions of VistA cannot be released to the public for security, license and copyright reasons, the vast majority is available.

• VistA on Media

• VistA Online

DVA's Vista Software available throughFOIA
The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) now distributes VistA software and VistA Imaging software in DVD or CD format. Contact the DVA’s FOIA representative for details regarding pricing and availability.

Under FOIA regulations, requests for VistA software must be in writing, including an original signature. Requests should be mailed to the following address:

Department of Veterans Affairs
VHA Office of Information Field Office
ATTN: National Help Desk (FOIA Request)
3701 Loop Road East, Building 40
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404

Contact the DVA's FOIA representative for details of pricing and availability.

If you were not able to get the desired software/information by making the above FOIA request, you may send a request to:

Mr. Clay Johnson
VHA FOIA Officer, (193B2)
Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Ave., NW
Washington, DC  20420

Be sure to give a complete description of the software/information being requested and if possible, indicate the VHA contact person or department to contact.

DVA's Vista Online
The Department of Veterans Affairs VistA software is available online, as well as a CPRS demo.  The software and documentation server is available via the Internet (outside the VA's firewall).

ftp://ftp.va.gov/vista/  **

A regularly updated collection of monographs that describe the VistA applications can be found here.

What sets this online site from the FOIA digital media is the patches folder! These patches will generally be current within a couple of weeks after their release internally in the VA.

** If the link does not work, be sure you are using a browser that supports the Bisonware FTP server (IE supports it).