Spotlight: Nora Holmes
Nora Holmes is an Innovation Specialist at the Charles George Department of VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC. Nora’s innovation journey began in 2015 when she began working with the VA as a pharmacist before transitioning to the Innovation Specialist role in 2023.
Prior to joining VA, Nora worked in community programs that were leading the way in providing inpatient clinical pharmacy services. While the services were still new to VA, they were quickly becoming the standard of care in community hospitals. Nora felt she joined VA at the right time, with the right knowledge, and with the right support from leadership; and her and her pharmacy team were given an opportunity to build a successful inpatient clinical pharmacy program at the Charles George VA Medical Center. Nora noted that creating new programs that provide healthcare services for Veterans that are consistent with or better than the standards of care available in the community has been the driving force behind her pharmacy and innovation career with VA.
Nora shared that the initial pilot program established the importance of inpatient clinical pharmacy services at her facility and sparked the implementation of multiple cost-saving processes and protocols that have significantly improved patient safety and employee satisfaction. Her facility has also since added additional pharmacists and pharmacy technician staff dedicated to providing inpatient pharmacy services.
Transitioning to the role of Innovation Specialist has been both challenging and rewarding, Nora shared. Stepping outside of the scope of pharmacy has allowed her to see many amazing changes occurring within VA Healthcare. She has seen VA continuing to prioritize Veterans through novel approaches to providing healthcare. Nora added that they continue to push boundaries to not only reach, but surpass, current standards of patient care, with some of the most impactful changes stemming from ideas presented by frontline VA employees.
When asked what piece of advice she would offer to someone experiencing barriers in their innovation journey, Nora shared that someone told her “You cannot turn an aircraft carrier on a dime,” adding that small changes over time can have big results and those barriers present opportunities to adjust your course. She noted that in the moment it may not look like it, but you are making a difference.
Nora said it is an honor and privilege to work with such creative and caring individuals and to support the continued growth of innovation within the VA.
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2023 iEX
The 2023 VHA Innovation Experience (iEX), hosted by VHA’s Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL), welcomed over 500 VA employees, Veterans, and industry professionals together to celebrate another year of transforming Veteran care. This year’s iEX, which took place in Washington DC, between October 31 – November 2, marked the first time the event was fully in person since 2020. iEX once again showcased the collective power of innovation at VA and how the organization continues to push health care for Veterans forward. iEX will continue to be the meeting place for the brightest minds transforming Veteran care and iEX 2024 will be no different.
The 2023 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Innovation Experience (iEX) was an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of change alongside your fellow innovators, VA employees, Veterans, Industry Leaders, and researchers. This year, iNET was scattered across all aspects of iEX. Not only did iNET leadership participate in panel discussions and line the hallways with posters displaying Spark-Seed-Spread projects but iNET was active parts of three out of the four main breakout tracks: What is VHA Innovation, Training & Education, & Connection Café.
Explore videos from iEX here.
FY24 iNET Bootcamp
The annual iNET Spark-Seed-Spread Innovation Accelerator Bootcamp took place December 5-7, in Fairfax, VA. The theme of this year’s Bootcamp was “Driving Innovation Forward”, and it was filled with collaboration, creativity, and design-thinking activities. Over 250 individuals, including VHA Innovation Specialists, FY24 Spark-Seed-Spread investees, and VA leaders throughout the country came together to be inspired by innovation thought leadership, learn skills to practice human centered design (HCD), and network with like-minded passionate VA frontline employees.
Day one kicked off with a race car prototype challenge where attendees broke into teams to interview each other, using HCD discovery principles, and then built prototype cars from available materials (e.g., cardboard, paper plates, paint, playdoh, and more.) Day 1 also included a panel of representatives from the Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning that discuss, “The Current Innovation Landscape and VA,” VISN breakout sessions, and heard from VA’s Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks, Dr. Carolyn Clancy.
On day two of iNET Bootcamp, attendees began by designing race car helmets to highlight the barriers they might encounter on their race to bring their innovative idea to reality. Attendees also participated in activities designed to facilitate connections, with dedicated time to get to know mentors and identify peers who they could collaborate with on solutions. Also on day two, Brent Aguilar, HCD Lead for iNET, led attendees in a workshop to accelerate their innovation journey by avoiding assumptions and effective interviewing. Attendees ended day two creating solutions in breakout sessions with fellow investees with the same investment level.
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On day three of Bootcamp, attendees gained insight on how to break down barriers when innovating, as well as a session highlighting the importance of designing with equity in mind. Attendees also participated in innovation-inspired activities and puzzles, with a final networking activity where they rotated between three rooms, each focusing on a key fundamental takeaway of the entire event.
Allison Amrhein, Director of VHA Innovators Network noted “This is just the beginning. Investees will return to their facilities with the connections, lessons, and tools to advance both their individual projects and the culture of innovation at VA.”
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VHA Innovators Network Annual Report
The 2023 iNET Annual Report is finally here! This year’s report includes recaps on programming, VSO and community engagement, the 2023 iNET awards, and so much more. You can also read the “From the Director’s Chair” section for a glimpse of what is to come in 2024. Review the 2023 Annual Report here.
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Click here to receive calendar invites to The Exchange – a unique monthly video panel event hosted by VHA IE on the third Thursday of each month.
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