2023 State of Innovation Report – Fostering Trust and Transforming Care

Throughout my time working as Community Builder for VHA’s Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL), I’ve had many opportunities to show Veterans both the ways in which VA is dedicated to advancing care for Veterans, and how this commitment lies at the heart of our mission. In pursuit of this mission, myself and several other VHA staff members spent the majority of this summer engaging with over 2,000 Veterans at various Veteran Service Organization conventions to hear from everyday Veterans on ways we can improve our care.

These interactions were not only personally rewarding, but part of our continued efforts to incorporate Veteran voices into every stage of healthcare innovation at VA. As a part of this ongoing transformational change, VHA OHIL publishes a State of Innovation (SOI) Report on an annual basis, which serves as a comprehensive document that shines a light on the remarkable VA innovations aimed at enhancing Veteran care.

This year’s State of Innovation Report, titled "Delivering on the Mission: Fostering Trust and Transforming Care," (https://rly.pt/OHILInnovation) places a special emphasis on educating and empowering Veterans to actively engage with innovative projects and programs that align with their healthcare needs.

Many of these innovations are already available at VA facilities across the U.S., with a focus on addressing specific Veteran healthcare needs. The report also highlights the dedicated VHA providers who have developed solutions to improve care, such as the Atlas Knee Supporter, virtual and augmented reality programs for Veterans with chronic pain and PTSD, and the PREPARe program, which brings maternal and reproductive support services to VA facilities.

Each article within the report provides valuable insights into the specific needs that each innovation addresses, how it was developed, its impact on Veterans, and contact information for further inquiries. As much as it is a great resource to see the exciting new developments in care, this document is a guide to help Veterans find new and exciting programs and offerings potentially available to you today.

For those interested in delving deeper into our innovative initiatives, the complete 2023 SOI Report is available at VHA OHIL (https://rly.pt/OHIL). Veterans are encouraged to explore innovations that align with their unique healthcare journeys and find out how they can be a part of our mission to transform Veteran care.

To stay updated on the latest developments in VHA's innovation, individuals can visit the VHA OHIL website and subscribe to the weekly newsletter (https://rly.pt/VHANewsletter) which offers further information about opportunities for involvement in our transformative projects. We remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing care for Veterans, and the 2023 State of Innovation report serves as a testament to our ongoing dedication and unwavering support for those who have served our nation.