VA Telehealth Summit to increase health care access for Veterans

The Secretary’s Center for Strategic Partnerships and VA’s Office of Connected Care will host the Anywhere to Anywhere, Together Thought Leader Telehealth Summit on Thursday, Dec. 6 at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C.

The unprecedented and diverse gathering of the Nation’s leading industry, government, and non-profit thought leaders will help develop innovative solutions for increased access to telehealth and virtual care for Veterans. In addition, several major industry partners will announce commitments geared towards the expansion of access and best in class care to all Veterans.

Featured speakers include U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie and U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai. A panel of Veterans will also share their unique experiences utilizing VA telehealth services, and how these delivery options have improved their overall health and satisfaction.

The summit will not only help ensure better access, but also explore the roadmap for the future of virtual care that will increase quality and capacity of care for Veterans and all Americans. Telehealth and virtual care thought leaders will also participate in panel discussions and interactive work groups to facilitate lasting collaborations that will break new ground in innovation.

“Together, we’ll explore the future of virtual care and how to use emerging capabilities to best meet patient needs,” said Deborah Lafer Scher, executive advisor to the secretary who leads the Secretary’s Center for Strategic Partnerships. “These partnerships will improve outcomes and ultimately Veterans lives,” she said.

Event partners include Philips, Intel, Optum Healthcare, Amazon Web Services, EveryoneOn, GE Healthcare, Comcast, and Deloitte. Working Group partners include Philips, Dell, IBM, and Booz Allen Hamilton.

The VA provides telehealth at more than 900 sites across the country, in 50 areas of specialized care.

For more information, please visit https://www.va.gov/anywheretoanywhere/ .