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National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships

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HAP Healthcare Advancement Proposal Submission

The mission of the VHA National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships, (formerly the Office of Community Engagement under which was the Center for Compassionate Care Innovation [CCI] program) is to serve as a trusted resource and a catalyst for the growth of effective partnerships at the national, state, and community level and advances the health and wellbeing of Veterans through exploration of innovative, safe, and ethical emerging therapies. 

The National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships welcomes healthcare advancement proposals that address:

Sharing a proposal with HAP is not a substitute when other avenues of submission within VA are more appropriate, such as Research and Development Requests for Applications (RFAs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) or contracting. HAP does not award contracts, provide research grants, or offer other forms of financial support.

HAP Healthcare Advancement Proposal Criteria:

Safety First – Proposed interventions should provide safe and ethical treatment to Veterans. It is paramount to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that Veterans have access to treatments that are demonstrated to be both safe and ethical. All proposals are assessed using great rigor to ensure that the fundamental principle “do no harm” is maintained. Proposals determined to be unsafe or in conflict with VHA’s mission, vision, or goals will be declined.

Clinical Innovation – Proposed interventions should be either:

  • A new idea that may lack rigorous scientific evaluation and data OR
  • An innovative application of existing modalities for different purposes, diagnoses, or populations

Clinical Benefit – Proposed interventions should enhance Veteran well-being

Feasibility – Proposed interventions must be capable of being adopted and implemented within VHA's healthcare system.

All proposals are fairly and objectively reviewed utilizing extensive evaluation standards to determine if they meet HAP’s criteria to support efficacious and innovative proposals. HAP will send proposal submitters an acknowledgment within 30 days of receipt. If the proposal meets HAP’s criteria for submission and aligns with its mission, submitters will receive periodic status updates. Proposals go through a comprehensive review process and may take several months to review.

HAP Healthcare Advancement Proposal FAQ's

What are the steps in submitting a proposal to HAP?
The proposal submission process includes contacting HAP, HAP acknowledgement, proposal submission, proposal review and follow up with outcome of review. HAP may request additional details at any point during the submission and review process. Timely response (within 30 days) to HAP's requests for details is appreciated.

What types of proposals does HAP accept?
All HAP proposal submissions should focus on an innovative therapy that enhances Veterans’ physical and mental well-being. HAP priority areas include suicide prevention, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain; however, accepted submissions are not limited to any particular subject.

How long does the review process take?
The length of the review period depends on the complexity of the proposal. HAP conducts fair and objective reviews for each proposal; therefore, more complex proposals may take more time to fully review. Submitters can expect an initial response within 30 days of contacting HAP. A follow up on the status of the proposal review will be issued within 90 days of proposal submission.

Who reviews proposals?
HAP has staff dedicated to the timely and thorough review of all proposals. Innovations shared with HAP are assessed by VHA subject matter experts to evaluate their clinical utility, safety, and applicability to the VHA system.

What outcomes can I expect from HAP?
The outcome of the proposal review will depend on the developmental stage of the proposal and proposal details. Proposals reviewed by HAP may be approved and connected to the appropriate VA program office for implementation. Some submitters may be asked to further explain or revise their proposal if additional details are necessary to complete the review. If a proposal does not meet HAP's criteria, the submitter will be notified.

What support can HAP offer?
HAP is designed to explore emerging therapies that may enhance Veterans’ physical and mental well-being. HAP is not an implementation office intended to conduct research or clinical treatment. HAP can help those who wish to collaborate with VA to establish a partnership or opportunity for collaboration. HAP can further offer support by connecting submitters to VA staff and program offices who may be interested in implementing approved proposals. Additionally, HAP may be able to provide submitters with information when the proposed innovation is already available in VA.

Share Your Proposal with the National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships



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