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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Innovation Ecosystem (VHA IE) preaches adaptability to all the innovators we support. Innovation must always be evolving and changing to fit the needs of our Veterans. That is exactly what VEText—a text message appointment reminder system for Veterans supported and spread through the VHA Innovators Network (iNET)—did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
VEText is helping to keep Veterans informed and get them vaccinated by alerting them to COVID-19 information, vaccine availability, and scheduling, providing trustworthy and timely information about the vaccine. The creation and support of VEText through iNET meant that when rapid messaging and appointment scheduling was needed for COVID-19 VHA was already ready. VEText adapted.
The new VEText COVID-19 services are built off the innovative work already done by the VEText team and VHA IE, showing the practice’s incredible ability to expand and adapt to the needs of Veterans. VEText began disseminating COVID-19 information in March of 2020 when VA, looking for a way to inform Veterans rapidly and accurately during the COVID-19 pandemic, turned to the system. The texts sent by the COVID-19 Information Mass Messaging initiative provided links to VHA’s COVID-19 response resource page, frequently asked questions (FAQs), mental health and well-being information, and more.
The service hasn’t stopped there, as the team continues innovating to enhance Veterans’ safety and peace of mind. VEText is now being used to streamline COVID-19 screenings for Veterans coming to medical facilities, deliver “I Am Here” alerts so Veterans can be checked in remotely, keep Veterans informed of vaccine roll-out and processes, and send alerts with easy follow-up scheduling for vaccine appointments.
Learn more about VEText at www.va.gov/HEALTH/VEText.asp.
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