VA Bedford Announces 2024 Spark-Seed-Spread Selections
The VA Bedford Healthcare System is excited to reveal the three projects chosen for its 2024 Spark-Seed-Spread Innovation Investment and Accelerator Program.
This program provides funding and support to promising new initiatives aimed at enhancing care and services for Veterans.
After a competitive application process, the following innovative projects have been selected as the FY2024 Spark-Seed-Spread Investees:
Reality of Pain - Investee Joanna W. Wong will explore using Virtual Reality technology to allow Veterans to self-administer chronic pain treatment from home. This aims to increase Veteran autonomy and reach those who have difficulty accessing clinic care.
Engaging Employees with the Voice of the Veteran - Investee Sarah E. Duncan will develop a system to directly deliver Veteran survey feedback to VA employees through email and Microsoft Teams. This will improve staff awareness of Veterans' perspectives.
Treatment Device - Investee Marie M. Leese will create a device to allow Veterans with limited mobility to independently apply treatments to hard-to-reach parts of their body. This promotes Veteran independence.
VA Bedford sees the Spark-Seed-Spread program as crucial for encouraging innovation and enhancing care. Over the next year, the Investees will work with the VA's Innovation & Enterprise Networks office to develop prototypes of their projects.
The VA Bedford community is encouraged to engage with these initiatives by offering expertise and support. Additional innovation programming such as workshops and training will also be available in the coming year.
By investing in its staff's most creative ideas, VA Bedford aims to spark positive change, seed future innovation, and spread the impact throughout Veterans' healthcare experiences.