VA Innovation

Embedding Physical Therapy within Patient-Aligned Care Teams (PACT PT) facilitates readily accessible same-day care for Veterans referred to physical therapy with musculoskeletal, neurological, or pain complaints. A recent article by The American Legion National Headquarters highlights an interview with Chris Rowedder and Dr. Evan Kelly Manchester VA Medical Center of the PACT PT team. The interview provides insight into the team’s unique model for same-day evaluation and treatment, which has benefited over 37,000 Veterans this year.

Read the article here: https://bit.ly/4fm0Geb

Veterans Health Care | The American Legion The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness.

Join Dr. Beth Ripley, Deputy Chief for the Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning, as she discusses the transformative power of 3D printing in the latest episode of the "Tomorrow's Cure" podcast. Discover how the Veterans Health Office of Advanced Manufacturing (OAM) is pioneering patient-specific health care solutions, aiming to equip every VA medical center with 3D printing services.
Listen here: https://apple.co/3WaiQI6

Get ready for iEX 2024! Join us in this exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of change alongside VA employees, Veterans, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Don't miss the interactive exhibit booth where you can help codesign innovative healthcare products of tomorrow. VHA innovation is about breaking boundaries through innovative solutions and technology to make monumental improvements in the lives of Veterans. Register to attend here: https://bit.ly/4cNoyWm

During a recent roadshow presentation in Orlando, FL, VHA SimLEARN Executive Director Eric Bruns discussed the four “I” s of SimLEARN; Involve, Immerse, Improve, and Impact. With simulated learning, we can our clinicians in the development process, them in critical scenarios and life-like situations, processes through unlimited practice, and greatly the total outcome. All result in better overall care for Veterans. To learn more about SimLEARN, visit: https://bit.ly/4aRAVio today!

Meet the 76-year-old Vietnam-era Veteran whose smile was restored after enduring facial trauma. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he praised VA Puget Sound: "I would give them a 5-star rating. The dentures are awesome—feel great, look great!" Read his inspiring story here: https://bit.ly/4cNyPl0

📢 This week's VHA IE newsletter is here. Learn how the BRIEF program is expanding access to eyeglasses for Veterans at the VA Gulf Coast, register for the iEX 2024 in Chicago, and join us for upcoming events like The Exchange on diabetes care and the Diffusion of Excellence Quarterly Call. Stay updated with the latest innovations and initiatives designed to enhance Veteran care.

Read the full newsletter and subscribe to stay informed:

BRIEF expands Veteran access to eyeglasses at VA Gulf Coast BRIEF expands Veteran access to eyeglasses at VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Administration sent this bulletin at 07/16/2024 01:28 PM EDT Share this email with your colleagues to make sure they get the latest VHA IE news: SUBSCRIBE BRIEF expands Veteran access to eyeglasses at VA Gulf Coast Blind Reh...

Explore the cutting-edge products developed by the Veterans Health Office of Advanced Manufacturing (OAM) to support Veterans' health care needs. From the Thermal Fuse Cover to the Radiotherapy Bolus, OAM is revolutionizing patient care by equipping VA providers with the tools they need to deliver the best outcomes for Veterans.

VA-Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning >Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning

We are once again thrilled to celebrate the Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL)’s Mission Daybreak, VHA Pathfinder, and ’s SimVET Analysis programs for their 2024 FORUM Innovation Award wins. The awards ceremony, at The City Club of Washington, recognized outstanding innovators making a tremendous impact on Veterans' health care. A huge congratulations to all the winners! Your pioneering efforts and unwavering commitment to excellence stretch the boundaries of what's possible and inspire us all to strive for greater heights. Your groundbreaking projects will continue to enhance and revolutionize care for our Veterans. Thank you for your hard work and dedication—your achievements are a testament to the power of innovation. Recap here: https://bit.ly/3zDgitd

Stay informed and connected with the latest advancements in Veteran care through the Veterans Health Office of Advanced Manufacturing (OAM) newsletter! Each edition features insightful articles, exclusive spotlights on groundbreaking projects, and dedicated staff profiles. From Seattle to Richmond, six nationwide sites are transforming health care with cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities. Join the mission to innovate and improve care for all Veterans. Subscribe now!

Veterans Health Administration

Alex Wesner and Dr. Marilyn Westner went on the C20 podcast to talk about their innovation: Xander. These glasses, a VHA Innovators Network (iNET) Greenhouse collaboration, use built-in monitors with displays to render real-time captions for individuals affected by hearing loss and auditory processing disorders. Take a listen here: https://bit.ly/3W6jcPO

Each year, VHA Innovators Network (iNET) awards "Innovation Specialist of the Year" to a VA employee who has used their exceptional skills and inspiring leadership to consistently empower employees to innovate. This year’s nominations include three women with unmatched dedication to innovating and sparking change to better improve the lives of Veterans. The nominations are:
- Stephanie Brown, Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System
- Jamie Key, Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center
- Elizabeth Johnson, Dayton VA Medical Center
Learn more about the awards at: https://bit.ly/3xcWOLc

📢 Check out this week’s VHA IE newsletter! Some highlights include:

*VA Social Connections Workshop Series: Experts united to address social isolation among Veterans, led by Lori Murphy.

*Award Information Sessions: Register for sessions on July 10 & 11 to learn about Dr. Robert L. Jesse Award for Excellence in Innovation and Garry J. Augustine VSO Collaboration Award.

*New Communities on Diffusion Marketplace: Discover innovations in Su***de Prevention and Age-Friendly Health Systems Initiative.

*MIT Catalyst Fellowship: Apply by August 5 for this transformative fellowship opportunity with MIT linQ and VHA Innovation Ecosystem.

Stay informed and share the latest VHA IE news with your colleagues! Click here: https://bit.ly/3xXl7gp

VA Social Connections Workshop Series Ignited Momentum for Collaborative Innovation VA Social Connections Workshop Series Ignited Momentum for Collaborative Innovation Veterans Health Administration sent this bulletin at 07/09/2024 10:30 AM EDT Share this email with your colleagues to make sure they get the latest VHA IE news: SUBSCRIBE VA Social Connections Workshop Series Ignited...

VA is bringing virtual reality into Veteran homes for TelePain management. At-home chronic pain management has shown measurable success—“All of the Veteran patients have mentioned that they’re able to manage their mood and their stress level, and their sleep has improved,” says Specialty Chief Dr. Nadia Hussain. Virtual TelePain management provides care for Veterans who may have trouble making it to an in-person appointment, live in rural areas, or have anxiety about coming to a facility. Learn more about early adoption at: https://bit.ly/45tmyPY

Virtual reality for Veteran TelePain management - VA News The VISN 12 Clinical Resource Hub has adopted immersive technology use for their TelePain program.

Introducing the Garry J. Augustine VSO Collaboration Award!

VA proudly announces a new award to honor VA employees and VSOs who work together to innovate and enhance care for Veterans. This award commemorates the incredible contributions of the late DAV leader, Garry J. Augustine, a dedicated advocate for Veteran care.

VA Employees can nominate until August 14th.

"Our goal is for VA to be the provider of choice for all Veterans, and collaborating with VSOs helps us achieve this," said VA Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Shereef Elnahal. The award presentation will be October 2024 at the VHA Innovation Experience (iEX) conference. Nominate now and celebrate those making a difference: https://bit.ly/3xFuOAc

Even if you aren’t looking for a career in VA, you may be surprised by the work being done. VA is innovating health care delivery through the clinical implementation of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Providers are putting to supplement existing methods of care and offer Veterans a non-pharmaceutical support tool. More featured in this video:

Innovating Health Care at VA At VA, our teams have been pioneering health care for years, and are excited about what the future holds! Learn more about historical advancemen...

Hackathon harnesses AI for health care innovation - VA News VA Hackathon hosted in Tampa brought together 300+ participants, leveraging cutting-edge technology to reimagine Veteran health care.

Dr. Jay Gorman, Clinical Research Psychologist at VA Bedford Healthcare System and a 2024 VHA Innovation Ecosystem Entrepreneur in Residence Fellow, was recently featured on The American Legion National Headquarters Tango Alpha Lima podcast! In the episode, Dr. Gorman talks about the critical role of peer-to-peer connections in combating loneliness and social isolation among Veterans through the Veterans Socials program. He highlights how these non-clinical settings provide a space for Veterans to build meaningful relationships, ultimately reducing su***de risks. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation. Listen to the full podcast here: https://bit.ly/3KRYBbz or watch the video interview here: https://bit.ly/4ctQrSx

The 2nd Annual , hosted by the VHA SimLEARN Resuscitation Education and Innovation (REdI) program, was a monumental event that brought together health care professionals from across the VHA. Over three inspiring days, attendees had the chance to learn from renowned resuscitation experts.
Keynote speeches, insightful panel discussions, and hands-on training sessions provided invaluable knowledge to enhance resuscitation practices. The symposium's central theme of "Are You REdI For It?" challenged participants to boost their confidence in delivering lifesaving care. The engaged audience of approximately 300 people represented the VA health care community's dedication to continuous learning and improving patient outcomes.

Check out how the symposium made a lasting impact on the future of resuscitation within VA facilities nationwide: https://bit.ly/3XwGXli

On June 19, 2024, Dr. Jay Gorman, Director of the Social Reintegration Research Program at VA Bedford Healthcare System, joined Michael W. Hale on the Wreaths Across America Radio Morning Show to discuss the transformative impact of Veterans Socials. Dr. Gorman highlighted the critical issue of loneliness among Veterans and its link to increased su***de risk. “1 in 3 people feel lonely daily, leading to a 32% increase in early death,” he shared. Veterans Socials, which have grown from 11 to 97 sites across 20 states, play a crucial role in upstream su***de prevention by addressing social isolation in the Veteran community. Listen to the interview to learn how Veterans Socials are changing lives and providing social connection opportunities to reduce loneliness among Veterans. Listen now:

Jay Gorman (Clinical Psychologist, Veterans Affairs) 6 19 2024 On the Wreaths Across America Radio Morning Show, Michael W. Hale talks with Dr. Jay Gorman, a Massachusetts-based clinical psychologist at the VA Bedford Health Care System in the Veterans Mental He

On June 12, VA honored Women Veterans Day to mark the anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act which allowed women to serve in a permanent and regular capacity.
Today, there are more than 350,000 servicewomen and 2 million female Veterans in the U.S., the highest number in history. Let us commemorate and celebrate the extraordinary contributions made by women in the Armed Forces.
From the early days of conflict to the present, women make invaluable sacrifices and pave the way for future generations.
Tanya Bradsher, VA Deputy Secretary, and Kimberly Jackson, VA Chief of Staff, both women Veterans, visited the Military Women's Memorial, Washington, D.C., with a group of dedicated women Veterans to honor and preserve the history of servicewomen. It’s a powerful reminder of the courage, strength, and resilience female Veterans embody. To all women veterans: Thank you for your service, contributions, and breaking down barriers daily.

Improving access for low vision Veterans - VA News Gulf Coast VA partnered with the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA to successfully Improve access for low vision Veterans.

In collaboration with VA Palo Alto Health Care System's Geriatric Fellowship Director, Education Director, and GRECC staff, Dat Hoang-Gia, CNS, identified a significant gap among health care professionals in older adult LGBTQ+ education. Recognizing the potential to use virtual reality (VR) to combat prejudice and unrecognized bias, the team embarked on an innovative journey to create an impactful education program.

"We implemented a multimodal two-hour workshop on the care of LGBTQ+ older adults using case-based learning (Aquifer Geriatrics), VR simulation (Embodied Labs), a discussion and debrief with LGBTQ+ staff champions. This is a safe learning environment where learners can freely ask questions and discuss topics that are not normally addressed,” Hoang-Gia explains.

Based on clinician feedback, the workshop has not only increased education and knowledge for clinicians but has resulted in a significant increase in comfort and confidence with working with LGBTQ+ older adults. Hoang-Gia adds, “The biggest impact that I have seen is the increase of clinicians becoming allies of the LGBTQ+ community.”

This program has collaborated with Innovators Network Innovation Specialist Megan Rumzie and is already set to spread to other VA sites, including Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.

VHA Diffusion of Excellence's Shark Tank competition provides VA employees an opportunity to pitch their innovative ideas to improve Veteran care nationwide. Since its inception in 2015, Shark Tank has received over 3,600 submissions, with 99% of VA facilities participating.

Finalists pitch their ideas on a national stage, celebrating their hard work and bringing impactful projects to life. Diffusion of Excellence provides a blueprint to scale successful programs, ensuring lasting improvements in Veteran care. From 20 sites to 90 and growing, the innovators are transforming care for Veterans everywhere. Learn more here:

Diffusion of Excellence: Empowering VHA frontline employees to scale innovation Diffusion of Excellence's mission is to identify, replicate, and scale emerging Promising Practices across VHA's nationwide health care system. We sponsor th...

The PRIDE in All Who Served (PRIDE) program is a 10-week health promotion group for LGBTQ+ Veterans designed to reduce health care disparities, including su***de risk.

A recent article by The American Legion National Headquarters highlights their visit to Birmingham VA Health Care System to interview original members of the PRIDE team, VA employees from the VA Birmingham PRIDE group, and Veteran participants:

PRIDE shines, heals veterans Birmingham VA hospital among those providing services, resources and support to the LGBTQ community.

Dr. Jay Gorman is a Clinical Research Psychologist at VA Bedford Healthcare System and a 2024 VHA Innovation Ecosystem Entrepreneur in Residence Fellow. Dr. Gorman leads the Veteran Socials program and was featured last week on The American Legion National Headquarters weekly podcast, Tango Alpha Lima.

Dr. Gorman spoke with the hosts on the impact of loneliness and social isolation among Veterans, saying “Leveraging the power of the Veteran-to-Veteran connections is part of the solution.” Giving Veterans a non-clinical setting to interact with other people who have shared experiences strengthens the peer-to-peer relationships that have been shown to reduce su***de risks.

You can listen to the podcast recording here: https://bit.ly/3KRYBbz or view the video interview here: https://bit.ly/4ctQrSx

The VHA Innovators Network is excited to welcome five new sites to their innovation community Chicago VA Medical Center, Salisbury VA Health Care System, Fayetteville VA NC Coastal Health Care System, New Orleans Veterans Medical Center, and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. iNET sites employ dedicated Innovation Specialists to facilitate local programming; lead national and local innovation events; and connect employees with the knowledge and resources they need to design, develop, and test their new, innovative solutions. With these latest additions, there are now 41 iNET sites across the country. Learn more on: https://www.innovation.va.gov/ecosystem/views/innovators-network/innovators-network.html

From thought-provoking keynote presentations and insightful panel discussions to hands-on workshops and networking opportunities, this video takes you on a journey through the 2024 VHA Resuscitation Symposium's most memorable moments. Witness the enthusiasm and engagement of healthcare professionals, researchers, and educators as they come together to advance resuscitation science, share best practices, and forge collaborations that will shape the future of Veteran care. Watch on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOIyERPJrmY

2024 Symposium Highlights Highlights from the 2024 VHA Resuscitation Symposium held in Orlando, FL by SimLEARN and REdI. From thought-provoking keynote presentations and insightful pa...

This , learn more about how VHA is connecting LGBTQ+ Veterans and improving LGBTQ+ patient health literacy. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/45fArkY

VA Innovation - VA PRIDE in All Who Served Program It has been widely documented by multiple studies that LGBTQ+ Veterans are at increased risk for su***de and other healthcare inequities, due to discriminati...

This week, we are recognizing excellence in service to our Veterans!

We are thrilled to celebrate and acknowledge the outstanding contributions of our Service to the Citizen Award recipients:
🏆 Evan Davis, for his innovative work with VHA OHIL's Strategic Initiatives Lab/VA Immersive

🏆 Nichol Salvo, DPM, 2024 VHA IE Senior Innovation Fellow and Chief of Podiatry at Atlanta VA Health Care System

🏆 Lori Murphy, LISW-S, 2024 VHA IE Entrepreneur in Residence and Senior Caregiver Support Social Worker at Columbus VA Ambulatory Care Center

🏆 Mary Julius, RDN, LD, CDCES, 2024 VHA IE Senior Innovation Fellow and Quality Manager, National VA-DOD Virtual Diabetes Self-Management Education Program Coordinator, Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support at Cleveland VA Medical Center

🏆 Kevin Carroll, Ph.D., 2024 VHA IE Entrepreneur in Residence Fellow Clinical Neuropsychologist at VA Northern California Health Care System

🏆 Kimberly Church, National Lead for Age-Friendly Health Systems and Kayla Lalande and Ines Valencia-Mendoza, Age-Friendly Program Analysts, VHA Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care

🏆 Katie Braun, Chief, Employee Engagement Center & Innovation Specialist at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Your dedication and commitment to improving the lives of our Veterans through innovation and service are truly inspiring. Thank you for your hard work and congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

If you’re tired of hearing “no” and facing outdated practices, the VHA Innovators Network (iNET) Playbook is here to help. It’s a guide for brave leaders looking to drive change and start an innovation program. Ready to transform your organization? Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3xcWOLc