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The Exchange is a monthly VHA IE panel event where innovators across VA come together to share their perspectives and discuss ways they're disrupting existing models of care across the health care system. The March edition focused on upcoming application based opportunities within VHA Innovation Ecosystem and allowed attendees to hear from fellow VA employees currently in each of the programs.
VHA IE Fellowships Empower VA Change Agents
On May 15, applications for the 2025 VHA IE Fellowships Cohort will open. Two current VHA IE Fellows, Senior Innovation Fellow, Dr. Rona Relova, and Entrepreneur in Residence Fellow, Lori Murphy, joined VHA IE Fellowships Acting Director, Amber Goetschius, on The Exchange to share their perspective and advice.
Dr. Relova, who is a Research Health Scientist at VA Palo Alto Health Care System, introduced her project on Pharmacogenomics (PGx). According to Dr. Relova, being a Senior Innovation Fellow has been a transformational experience. “The fellowship provided me with so much support that I can really forge forward,” Dr. Relova said. She shared how the Fellowship has helped her make connections that are critical to the success of her work, stating "Without knowing the proper door to knock, you can’t move forward. This program is the door you should be knocking."
Lori Murphy, who is a Senior Social Worker at the Central Ohio VA Healthcare System, is focused on addressing Veteran loneliness, and streamlining and expanding her project, Compassionate Contact Corps, which was a 2022 VHA Shark Tank Competition winner. "This was where it started for me. From there, everything took off. The process of Shark Tank gave me the confidence to apply for this fellowship. The cheerleading and encouragement have been invaluable," Murphy said.
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VHA Shark Tank Competition: A Launching Pad for Health Care Innovations
Diffusion Specialist Blaine Fitzgerald joined The Exchange to discuss applications for the 10th VHA Shark Tank Competition, which open on April 1. VHA Shark Tank identifies VHA frontline employee innovations that promote positive outcomes and improved experiences for Veterans and VHA community.
Fitzgerald was joined by Lori Murphy, 2022 winner, and Michael Rogers, 2024 winner, whose project is called Suicide Risk Screen Follow Up Monitor. Murphy and Rogers shared their experiences with the competition and how it's helped them grow professionally and personally.
When asked what he would say to someone considering applying for Shark Tank, Rogers said, "Do it!" Reflecting on the experience Rogers continued, “Stop thinking and do it. You won’t regret the application process. Start it early. Follow your heart and you’ll be successful in the end.”
The VHA Shark Tank Competition is open to VHA employees who have successfully implemented an innovation project in one or more facilities and collected three months of post-implementation data.
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iNET: An Innovation Networks Connecting VA Frontline Staff
VHA Innovators Network (iNET) consists of 38 VA Medical Centers across the country who drive innovation on the frontline from the ground up. iNET is looking for new VA medical centers (VAMC) to be a part of their bustling community of employees united by a desire to solve health care problems and engage in shared learning. iNET Director, Allison Amrhein, joined The Exchange to discuss two upcoming iNET applications: iNET Site Applications and the Go Fish! Program. Amrhein detailed what goes into applying to become an iNET site and how the Go Fish! Program offers innovators at non iNET sites the opportunity to participate with iNET's innovation accelerator program.
Elizabeth Johnson is an Innovation Specialist at the Dayton VA Medical Center, which was accepted into iNET in 2023. Johnson, and one of her former Go-Fish! Program investees, Tenisha Smith, shared their experience with both becoming an iNET site and participating in Go Fish!. When asked what their favorite part of the innovators network was, Smith said: “The people. The stories and connections. When your together with those in the innovators network, you’re together with people apart of a greater cause.” Carl LoFaro, Go Fish! investee from VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System, also shared how the experience has helped support his project, which is aimed at preventing Veteran suicide.
Applications for both iNET Site Applications and the Go Fish! Program open on April 1 and close on April 30, 2024. Those interested in applying to become an iNET site can access the Toolkit here, and those interested in applying for Go Fish! can access the toolkit here.
You can register for future Exchange calls here. Want to catch the full Exchange panel for yourself? Click below to view the recording.
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Tomorrow at 1PM ET, the VHA Innovators Network will hold the final class of the 2024 Ignite Series. The sessions introduce and expound upon innovative concepts that employees can apply directly to their work and serves as a sourcing mechanism for employees across VA to apply to get involved in iNET competitions, such as Go Fish! and the Spark-Seed-Spread innovation investment program.
In the fourth and final class, panelists will “Ignite” employee passion for innovation and leave them feeling ready to apply to one of Innovation Ecosystem’s many opportunities. Attendees will hear a panel discussion involving those who have done it before and be ready to take the next step in their innovation journeys.
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VA offers Veterans complementary and integrative health services to improve their well-being through traditional mindfulness-based exercises.
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“Since starting the beekeeping program in 2019, Veterans have had the opportunity to learn how to be a beekeeper through hands on education. While in the hives, the beekeepers are working with more than 50,000 bees, so it is difficult to have your focus on anything except the bees. Veterans learn to stay calm, practice mindfulness, while responding the needs of the bees. Veterans who are participating in the program have shared that they have found that it’s having a positive influence on their mental health, pain management, and social connections,” said Carter.
HIVES teaches Veterans about beekeeping practices, focusing on the therapeutic aspects of honeybee care. Each week, Veterans practice mindfulness, relaxation, and stress management skills as they tend to honeybee hives and participate in educational sessions. The program engages Veterans who do not always participate in traditional mindfulness practices and offers a community to connect with other Veterans.
Veterans participating in HIVES at VA Manchester report reduced anxiety and depression and improved quality of life. Veterans have also shared how the program has equipped them with skills to manage posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and decreased their need for mental health appointments and pain medications. View this video to hear Veterans share their experiences. In addition to the Manchester VAMC, HIVES also currently serves Veterans at VA Kansas City Healthcare System and VA Palo Alto Health Care System.
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Dr. Kevin Carroll is a 2023 VHA IE Entrepreneur in Residence Fellow who serves as a Clinical Neuropsychologist at the Martinez VA Medical Center. Dr. Carroll leads an innovative project using Virtual Rehabilitation Game Development (VRGD) that aims to enhance rehabilitation for Veterans facing cognitive, physical, and emotional challenges post-injury. As Veterans play, a 3D depth camera mirrors their movements, making therapy enjoyable and stress-free while promoting desired movements to optimize treatment. This innovative treatment will enhance therapy treatments for Veterans, making rehabilitation more effective, enjoyable, and sustainable.
Dr. Carroll collaborates with high schoolers from Clayton Valley Charter High School's Advanced Game Design Program, fostering interdisciplinary learning and community involvement.
He notes that the “innovative aspect of this project is rounded out by providing high schoolers with hands-on experience. Students are learning about complex medical and emotional concepts by having the opportunity to help Veterans.”
Dr. Carroll recently had the opportunity to demo VRGD for Congressman Mark DeSaulnier of California’s 10th Congressional District, who expressed his enthusiasm for the project’s virtual therapy aspect and ability to reach Veteran patients in rural areas.
The project's unique approach extends to partnerships with the Martinez VA and plans for clinics providing services in physical therapy, recreational therapy, and research. Dr. Carroll envisions the final product of VRGD as a portable computer stand and camera for home or clinic use, facilitating enjoyable rehabilitation experiences. With a focus on reaching nursing facilities and Veterans' homes, the project holds significant potential for widespread impact for Veterans, making rehabilitation more effective, enjoyable, and sustainable.
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