Innovation has long been a cornerstone of the work we do at VA, from developing the first implantable cardiac pacemaker in 1960 and the first electronic health record in 1970, to being one of the first U.S. health care systems to adopt 5G and test its use cases in 2020.
Our Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL) is dedicated to supporting and developing innovative health care solutions for Veterans. By embracing cutting-edge technologies and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, we’re finding new and exciting ways to meet the needs of our Veterans.
With the theme of “From Promise to Progress: Evolving Veteran Healthcare,” our annual State of Innovation Report highlights some of the innovative projects we’ve undertaken this year. Through these innovations, we encourage our employees to test assumptions and reinvent care models, allowing us to better reach the diverse population of Veterans that we serve.
Here are just a few of those projects, all spearheaded by VA employees.
Reaching rural Veterans
Since only 9-12% of Veterans follow up on their doctors’ orders to see a physical therapist, our Office of Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services has developed a proactive and personalized approach to physical therapy for Veterans. Through the VA Physical Therapy Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT PT), we’re embedding physical therapists into the primary care team processes, providing Veterans access to same-day care for musculoskeletal or neurological issues.
Gaps in podiatric care for feet can lead to discomfort and, in extreme cases, increased risk of limb amputation, but regular in-person care can be burdensome for rural Veterans. To meet this need, the High-Risk Eye and Limb Preservation Program (HELPP) integrates former military medics who now work as intermediate care technicians (ICTs) into podiatric visits. HELPP’s teamwork between virtual podiatrists and in-person ICTs has helped many Veterans receive crucial care.
Exploring virtual reality
Concerned that many Veterans are experiencing social isolation, which increases the risk of mental health issues, VA Immersive implemented the Peer Social Support pilot. This program provides access to virtual reality (VR) platforms that offer opportunities to cultivate camaraderie and connection. The program also provides training for VA providers who are offering VR headsets to Veterans, focusing on effectively supporting the use of the virtual platform.
Virtual Reality-Based At-Home Chronic Pain Management provides Veterans with the opportunity to learn different pain management techniques activities like deep breathing exercises, relaxation, pain education, or mindfulness-based practices. This technology enables Veterans to learn how to independently manage their pain through structured sessions that can decrease levels of reliance on pharmaceuticals, all from the comfort of their homes.
Advancements in science
For Veterans, the benefits of pharmacogenomics (PGx)—analyzing a blood sample to determine how an individual’s genes affect response to medications—can be profound. By integrating PGx information into a Veteran’s care, our clinicians can use it to provide medications that are better tailored to their genetic makeup. PGx minimizes adverse effects and toxicity, and translates to prescriptions that are no longer one-size-fits-all.
By harnessing augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence to advance medical imaging, VA has expanded our ability to deliver clinical care with the use of wireless ultrasound technology. This technology has improved precision in procedures, allowing for exact targeting and error reduction, which ultimately improves the quality of care for Veterans. This innovation is the result of work done by our National Center for Collaborative Healthcare Innovation (NCCHI).
Work at VA
Our people are the most essential ingredient for the change we hope to achieve together. Join our team and be part of an innovative culture of care.
- EXPLORE our annual State of Innovation report.
- LEARN about innovation at VA.
