Veterans Health Venture Studio Make-a-thon Bootcamp Ignites Innovation

This commitment was powerfully showcased at this year’s VHVS Make-a-thon Bootcamp, held from February 24-26 at the University of South Florida’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (USF CAMLS). This intensive event underscored VA's dedication to leveraging cutting-edge approaches to improve health care delivery and outcomes for Veterans.

Founded and championed by Dr. Indra Sandal, Chief Innovation Officer and Center Director of the National Center for Transformational Innovation (NC4TI) at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Florida, VHVS is a testament to the power of collaborative innovation. The bootcamp itself brought together over 145 passionate individuals, including 77 dedicated "Makers"—with 56 VA employees among them—and 35 faculty members. The group represented an impressive 34 VA facilities and 13 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) from 26 states and territories. 

The core mission of the Bootcamp is to cultivate and accelerate promising concepts toward pilot-ready solutions, directly addressing critical challenges faced by Veterans. The program’s success is evident in its multi-faceted impact, fostering not only People Development by enhancing innovation capabilities but also Community Development through vital collaborations and significant Technology Development leading to the launch of new products within VA facilities.

Driving Measurable Impact and Empowering Participants

Participants logged an impressive 1,848 Learning Hours, engaging deeply with the challenges and opportunities presented. Experts provided 253 valuable feedback suggestions, guiding Makers through critical development stages. This collaborative environment culminated in 17 presentations where participants showcased their innovative business case concepts.

The impact of the bootcamp on participants was profound, equipping them with enhanced capabilities and renewed confidence. Makers emerged with a significantly stronger ability to develop core business cases and a much-improved understanding of how to integrate cutting-edge AI and technical tools into their solutions. Beyond technical prowess, the program fostered vital professional growth, expanding their networks, and sharpening their communication skills. 

"As a Network Director, I'm inspired by the innovative solutions our frontline staff create for Veteran care," shares Sunaina Kumar-Giebel, Network Director for VISN 19 and VHVS Faculty & Advisory Council Member. "Learning from these dedicated employees and industry experts helps shape our strategy to ensure we're always advancing the best possible care for Veterans."

Addressing Critical Health care Challenges

The bootcamp focused on several key tracks, each targeting vital areas of Veteran care:

• Timely Access to Care: Solutions aimed at ensuring Veterans receive the care they need, when they need it.
• Optimize Enterprise-wide Costs and Operational Efficiency: Innovations designed to streamline VA operations, reduce waste, and improve resource allocation, ensuring taxpayer dollars are used effectively.
• Improve Community Care Coordination: Initiatives focused on better integrating community care with VA services.

Across these tracks, teams conceptualized solutions tackling key challenges such as improving access and patient flow, optimizing operational efficiency and cost reduction, and enhancing care coordination and outcomes through AI-driven tools, streamlined processes, and better data management.

Powerhouse Leadership and Expert Mentorship Fuel Program Success

The significance of the VHVS program was further highlighted by the high-level participation it attracted. Susan Orsega, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War (DASW) for Health Services Policy and Oversight, provided invaluable mentorship to teams, shared leadership insights, and delivered inspirational remarks on inter-agency collaboration. Additionally, a distinguished panel including industry leaders like Dan Coleman from Microsoft underscored the critical importance of public-private collaboration in accelerating innovation within the public sector.

Dr. Indra Sandal, the driving force behind VHVS, moderated a key panel on this theme, emphasizing VA's role as a hub for transformative ideas. "The Veterans Health Venture Studio is fundamentally about empowering those closest to the challenges—our VA employees and the Veterans themselves—to be architects of their own solutions," Dr. Sandal stated. 

The engagement of community collaborators like Eric Hayden, Chief Technology Officer for the City of Tampa, and industry experts like Ray Crowell, Founder of Whoop Studios and an Air Force Veteran, further cemented the program's impact. Hayden remarked, "Veterans Health Venture Studio is an amazing program that helps innovators stay productive and incredibly innovative. By working together, we can remove many of the daily roadblocks that hinder the creation of solutions."

Crowell highlighted the power of innovation: "Innovation matters because the world is in constant change. VHVS empowers us to adapt, collaborate, and apply our skills to truly improve the experience of those we serve."

From Bootcamp to Accelerator: Innovations Set to Launch

Six teams, representing eight Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) and 14 VA medical centers and program offices, are transforming their projects into pilot-ready solutions. Through the VHVS Accelerator, these teams are paired with expert mentors who guide them using validated data, cutting-edge technology, and insights from frontline providers, Veterans, and caregivers. Following this rigorous phase, teams will possess a working prototype ready for piloting within the VA.

We are excited to congratulate the teams selected to move forward into the VHVS Accelerator program.

Track 1 – Timely Access to Care:

• Bravo Zulu Health: For their innovative portal to consolidate appointments and scheduling, ensuring Veterans don’t miss crucial care.
• SPEED Access Care: Recognized for their AI-driven approach to screening high-risk symptoms and guiding provider routing, reducing delayed diagnoses.

Track 2 – Optimize Enterprise-wide Costs and Operational Efficiency:

• Exit Strategy: Celebrated for centralized discharge planning via a real-time dashboard, improving transitions and clinical capacity.
• CareNav: Acknowledged for their AI-powered solution to reduce misdiagnosis by suggesting accurate CPT/ICD codes from medical notes, minimizing coding errors.

Track 3 – Improve Community Care Coordination:

• Mission Fax Possible: Honored for automating and streamlining community care records management, reducing delayed treatment.
• Care Connect: Commended for their pharmacist-led platform that streamlines prescribing through standardized intake and secure provider messaging.