VA Innovations

The Diffusion of Excellence Initiative and VA Innovators Network share their successes at a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing.

Today in Washington, D.C., the Partnership for Public Service hosts the annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America awards

Every year, the VA Employee Innovation Competitions gather innovative ideas to improve quality, access and transparency of care for Veterans.

Our approach to innovation is driven by listening, understanding and responding to the experiences and stories of the Veterans we serve.

Pay for Success is a simple idea. Instead of paying upfront for a social service that may or may not help the Veteran, the government only pays once an intervention produces positive results.

Frontline staff from around the department showcased their ideas at VA’s Innovation [...]

On Monday, August 15, VA will hold an “Innovation Demonstration Day” where field-based employees have been invited to present their solutions developed to spark innovation in the VA.

“Providing healthcare to our nation’s Veterans is one of the most vital services we provide at the Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Snyder. “Through the MyVA transformation, we are working to rebuild trust with Veterans and the American people, improve service delivery and set the course for longterm VA excellence and reform, all while continuing to deliver better access to high-quality care.”

As a tool to help doctors evaluate treatment options for their patients, Watson for Genomics produces a list of potential therapies ranked by levels of evidence with links to associated research and clinical trials for physicians to consider. This information could help inform VA's healthcare professionals and veterans of promising new cancer treatments. The VA's top priorities of access to and quality of care could be enhanced through this innovative technology.

The rise of the maker movement and community of makers represents a significant opportunity for how VA can bring these tools and innovations to improve the experience and care of Veterans and their support networks.

San Francisco area VA employees and leaders will arrive today [...]

Over the six month period in FY 2015 that RRTICT was piloted on medicine wards at 7 VAMCs, there was an average 28 percent reduction in 30 day all-cause re-admissions when compared to FY 2014. Participating medical center staff indicated an increase in positive workplace culture and improved communication between care team members.