Gulf Coast VA innovators have ideas to improve Veteran care

Gulf Coast VA is looking forward to supporting and empowering three VA employees selected for the FY24 VHA Innovators Network (iNET) Spark-Seed-Spread Investment program.

The investees kicked off the FY24 iNET Spark-Seed-Spread Accelerator investment cycle in December at Bootcamp in Washington, D.C.

The VHA Innovators Network Spark-Seed-Spread Investment and Accelerator Program is an initiative to empower and support front line staff to identify and drive employee-inspired innovations that will ultimately provide breakthrough innovative solutions to improve the health care experience for Veterans, caregivers and employees.

The main goal of the investment program is to foster innovation and support the frontline staff transforming the culture in VA. This year’s Spark-Seed-Spread Investment program nearly doubled the applicants from last year.

The selections for the finalists were determined through a rigorous evaluation process by iNET. Over 340 VA employees applied to the competitive national program and 156 applicants were selected.

iNET empowers front line employees to move forward by innovation

Gulf Coast VA is one of 44 VA iNET sites nationwide. iNET was launched in 2015 to build and empower a community of VA front line employees who actively move the organization forward by innovation.

Three Gulf Coast VA innovative projects were selected for their potential to spark innovation, assist in the development of new ideas and spread positive impact throughout VA.

The three projects

Tina Johnson, dialysis coordinator, will be piloting virtual reality support during dialysis for Veterans in an effort to improve clinical outcomes and the Veteran experience. The project will provide Veterans’ access to VR headsets during their in-center hemodialysis appointments or home peritoneal or hemodialysis treatments to reduce symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression.

It will also reduce needle phobia, pain and discomfort, improve treatment adherence, and provide virtual access to the world around them that may otherwise be unattainable.

A Veteran participating in the Dialysis Virtual Reality Pilot Project is pictured above.

The second innovative project selected consists of pharmacists Tiffany Jagel and Nate Smith, who will refine and pilot an innovative standardized/streamlined process for staff to request urgent medications to be sent via expedited (overnight) mail to Veterans. The ultimate goal is to decrease instances of missed requests, workflow interruptions and provide an avenue for oversight to ensure these critical requests are completed in hopes to improve safety and Veteran experience.

The third investee through the iNET Go Fish! Initiative is Robert Hensley, an inventory manager from Montana West VA who will create a novel prototype to address the problem of not having a standardized method to communicate a hand sanitizer station as being empty or having dead batteries. The prototype will provide a needs-adjustable visual management system to successfully bridge existing communication gaps, improve infection control and safety for Veterans and employees.

Employees solve problems using human-centered design

Investees will receive funding, mentorship, training and the opportunity to collaborate with subject matter experts and stakeholders across VA and industry.

Empowering employees to solve problems using human-centered design is the key element to why so many employees and Veterans choose VA. Being able to equip employees with the tools they need to better the care and experience for Veterans is invaluable.

Gulf Coast VA is committed to transforming the culture within VA to an innovation culture that is aimed at improving Veterans’ care and experience. Learn more about the FY24 Spark-Seed-Spread program and the VHA Innovators Network.