Diffusion of Excellence (Diffusion), one of the most successful innovation programs in VA, will kick off its fifth cohort at the 2020 Diffusion of Excellence Base Camp (Base Camp) from Feb. 11-13 at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System in New Orleans. This year, the Veterans Health Administration Innovation Ecosystem (VHA IE) is expanding its impact through the simultaneous launch of the first-ever VHA Diffusion Academy. The two events support innovators from across VHA by providing them with training, resources, and networking opportunities to spread their promising practices to more Veterans, ensuring their work impacts and changes the lives of Veterans every day.
Diffusion in the limelight
With the conclusion of the 2019 VHA Shark Tank Competition, the 12 Gold Status Practices (GSP) begin the journey toward replication at new Implementing Facilities through the Diffusion of Excellence. At Base Camp, both the GSP developers―known as Gold Status Fellows―and their counterparts from other VA Medical Centers (VAMC)―known as Implementing Facility Fellows―come together to customize the GSP for implementation at the new facilities. The knowledge and relationships built during this event serve as the foundation to support the implementation process throughout the year.
At Base Camp, participants collaborate with subject matter experts to develop an implementation plan, an individualized roadmap designed to guide the replication of the practice in the new facility. Because VAMCs vary in size, services offered, and organizational structure, the success of the practice at one facility does not guarantee its success at another. Diffusion facilitates the spread of GSP by proactively identifying and addressing challenges, such as varying levels of leadership support, organizational differences, and funding roadblocks. By developing a roadmap for these challenges prior to implementation, the likelihood of success is increased as the practice spreads.
Since launching in 2015, Diffusion has identified 47 GSPs that have been replicated more than 800 times across almost all VA facilities. This program positively impacts the care and lives of hundreds of thousands of Veterans. With an additional 12 GSPs implementing at 18 new facilities, Diffusion will continue to change and save Veteran lives for years to come.
Welcome to VHA Diffusion Academy
VHA IE is fundamentally changing the Veteran experience, how they receive their care, and the overall quality, value, and impact of that care. However, that change can be even greater, and the innovations developed by VHA IE portfolios can spread even further. That is why the first-ever VHA Diffusion Academy is being held alongside this year’s Base Camp.
VHA Diffusion Academy takes mature innovations that are ready to take the next step from across VHA IE’s portfolios and helps their creators build the groundwork for sustaining and scaling their practices. Developed specifically for mature practices that have spread to other facilities, VHA Diffusion Academy focuses on promoting team development and cohesion, replication strategies, national stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, and resourcing for practice growth and sustainment. By providing training, education, and networking during this event, practice champions will have the resources and connections to spread their work nationwide.
Moving an innovation from a few facilities to a systemwide standard is a challenge that requires not only different skills, but continued support and connectivity. By addressing knowledge and project management gaps, VHA Diffusion Academy allows innovators, caregivers, and VA employees to continue to diffuse, mature, and/or progress their work independently.
The inaugural VHA Diffusion Academy will feature:
[accordion][accordion_section title=”Advanced Comprehensive Diabetes Care (ACDC)”]Practice Champions: Matt Crowley and Clare Evenson
Originating Facility: Durham VA Health Care System
Practice Summary: ACDC is a practical and effective method for enhancing access to comprehensive, telehealth-based diabetes care for Veterans struggling to manage their Type 2 diabetes. [/accordion_section][/accordion]
[accordion][accordion_section title=”Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Coordinated Access to Reduce Exacerbations (COPD CARE)”]
Practice Champions: Ed Portillo, Molly Lehmann, and Timothy Hagen
Originating Facility: William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
Practice Summary: COPD Care is an inter-professional transition of care service focused on COPD management during the Veteran’s transition from hospital or emergency department to home.[/accordion_section][/accordion]
[accordion][accordion_section title=”Environmental Management Service (EMS)”]
Practice Champions: Rick Rucker and Bruce Patton
Originating Facility: VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Practice Summary: EMS provides Veteran patients with a direct line of communication to EMS staff, allowing them to submit feedback about their hospital experience in real time, leading to an improved patient experience. [/accordion_section][/accordion]
[accordion][accordion_section title=”Inform-A-Vet”]
Practice Champions: Kimberly Taylor and Sherry Butts
Originating Facility: Martinsburg VA Medical Center
Practice Summary: Inform-A-Vet is a cloud-based text messaging tool used to provide family and friends with real-time texts regarding the progress of the Veteran’s surgical procedure, without the need to join a portal or download an app. This strengthens communication between the surgical team and concerned family members/friends and delivers timely updates via text messages during the various phases of surgical care and recovery.[/accordion_section][/accordion]
[accordion][accordion_section title=”PRIDE in All Who Served”]
Practice Champions: Tiffany Lange-Altman and Michelle Hilgeman
Originating Facility: Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center
Practice Summary: PRIDE in All Who Served is a 10-week health education group for LGBT Veterans focused on identity development and/or strengthening and reducing related health care disparities. Results have demonstrated reductions in suicidal ideation and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety.[/accordion_section][/accordion]
[accordion][accordion_section title=”Stay Interviews”]
Practice Champions: Natalie Hackbarth and Kriston Moore
Originating Facility: Tomah VA Medical Center
Practice Summary: The RN Stay Interviews practice uses an innovative interview plan format with new nursing staff during their first year on the job to assess satisfaction, identify programmatic improvement opportunities, and ultimately boost retention. [/accordion_section][/accordion]
Make sure you follow along to learn more about all these amazing practices at Base Camp and VHA Academy by following VHA Innovation on Twitter and #VHABaseCamp and #VHAAcademy.
Topics in this story
More Stories
Critical care dosing guides are critical in emergency care where a clinical team’s skill and focus matter most.
Combat Veteran faces the traumatic events of her PTSD during prolonged exposure therapy and looks forward to the days to come.
Bob Jesse Award celebrates the achievements of a VA employee and a team or department that exemplifies innovative practices within VA.
I’m 59 years old and female. I was diagnosed a couple of years ago with COPD and I was beyond scared! My lung function test indicated 49% capacity. After having had flu a year ago, the shortness of breath, coughing and chest pains continued even after being treated with antibiotics. I’ve been smoking two packs a day for 36 years. Being born without a sternum caused my ribs to be curled in just one inch away from my spine, resulting to underdeveloped lungs. At age 34 I had surgery and it was fixed. Unfortunately my smoking just caused more damage to my already under developed lungs. The problem was having is that I enjoy smoking and don’t want to give up! Have tried twice before and nearly went crazy and don’t want to go through that again. I saw the fear in my husband and children’s eyes when I told them about my condition then they start to find solution on their own to help my condition.I am an 59 now who was diagnose COPD emphysema which I know was from my years of smoking. I started smoking in school when smoking was socially acceptable. I remember when smoking was permitted in hospitals. It was not known then how dangerous cigarettes were for us, and it seemed everybody smoked but i was able to get rid of my COPD lung condition through the help of total cure herbal foundation my husband bought, totalcureherbsfoundation .c om has the right herbal formula to help you get rid and repair any lung conditions and cure you totally with their natural organic herbs,it class products at affordable prices. Purchase these medicines and get the generic medicines delivered in USA, UK & Australia,I wish anybody who starts smoking at a young age would realize what will eventually happen to their bodies if they continue that vile habit throughout their life.