VISN 10 Selected as National Center for Innovation in Digital and Remote Health

Cincinnati, OH — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pleased to announce the launch of the VHA Digital and Remote Health Center for Innovation (DRHCI) based out of the Cincinnati VA Medical Center with support from Veterans Integrated Service Network 10 (VISN 10). The DRHCI will serve as a digital health hub for VA medical centers across the nation. 

Ensuring that Veterans have timely access to world-class health care is a top priority for VA, and this work being led by front-line staff to incubate, co-develop and test solutions with Veterans will help speed up validation and scaling of digital and remote health solutions across VA. This work will ensure VA continues its role as a pioneer and leader in telehealth, connecting millions of Veterans each year to digital solutions and improved clinical outcomes through remote early detection and treatment.

DRHCI is one of VHA Innovation Ecosystem’s five National Center for Innovation to Impact (NCi2I), and the first to partner with one of VHA’s national program offices, VHA’s Office of Connected Care.

The DRHCI will seek to enhance Veteran care through:

• Improved clinical outcomes through remote early detection/treatment,
• Reduced travel by expanding access for rural Veterans, and
• More cost-effective solutions than traditional visits.

“This center positions VA at the forefront of digital health technology with the mission of providing best-in-class preventative care for Veterans,” said Dr. Lindsay Riegler, Director of DRHCI. “It allows us to systematically evaluate innovative digital health and remote patient monitoring solutions so that VHA can make informed, validated health care decisions.”

“The center is an important part of our strategy to be leaders in health care innovation and to provide the best care to Veterans,” said Dr. Meredith Josephs, Executive Director of Connected Health in VHA’s Office of Connected Care. 

As one of the largest and most complex VISN in the VHA system, VISN 10 is positioned as a leading innovation hub. Of the 11 medical centers in VISN 10, seven are complexity level-1 facilities affiliated with some of the best medical schools in America. VISN 10 also distinguishes itself with a strong footprint in the med-tech industry.

“The DRHCI will be a central resource to help improve the implementation of new solutions throughout VA,” said Jane Johnson, Executive Medical Center Director, Cincinnati VAMC. “It will offer solutions to Veterans and providers faster by streamlining navigation challenges and building infrastructure.”

In the coming years, VHA Innovation Ecosystem seeks to add additional National Centers for Innovation to Impact to capitalize on regional innovation hubs and advance innovative solutions that empower VA to provide world-class health care to Veterans.

ABOUT VISN 10 

VISN 10 provides personalized, proactive, patient-centered care to Veterans throughout the lower peninsula of Michigan, Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Indiana.

ABOUT VHA INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

VHA Innovation Ecosystem (VHA IE) is the catalyst for enabling the discovery and spread of mission-driven health care innovation that exceeds expectations, restores hope, and builds trust within the Veteran community. VHA IE leverages the collective power of innovation champions from across VA, academia, non-profit and industry to operationalize innovation in the Nation's largest integrated health care system.

ABOUT OFFICE of CONNECTED CARE

VHA’s Office of Connected Care focuses on improving health care through technology. By harnessing the latest virtual care tools, Connected Care expands the Veteran’s experience beyond the traditional office visit. This makes health information and care more accessible for Veterans.