Veterans Health Administration Launches Mobile Healthcare Initiatives

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides medical services for more than eight million veterans each year through the Veterans Health Administration, the largest integrated healthcare system in the country with over 1,700 sites of care. However, much of VHA's infrastructure was designed and built decades ago under an older concept of healthcare delivery that focused on hospital-centered, inpatient care.

To better address the medical needs of today's veterans, the VHA has launched a number of mobile healthcare initiatives. Neil Evans, M.D., and Kathleen Frisbee, MPH, Ph.D.c, who co-direct the VHA's Connected Health Office, spoke with FierceMobileHealthcare about the agency's mHealth pilot programs.

FMH: What is your vision for mobile healthcare and why is the VHA investing in mHealth?

Frisbee (right): I can almost answer that in one sentence--mobile healthcare is inherently mobile and we believe that's the future, both for providers because it improves their efficiency and for patients because it allows them to increase their interaction with the healthcare system through their mobile technology. That's why we're investing in it.