Health Care Innovation Day Brings Together Veterans Affairs, Industry and Gov't

Conference Challenges Leaders to Drive Down Health Care Costs, Improve Accessibility

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Innovations in wireless technology can make it easier – and more cost-effective – to bring health care to American veterans, particularly those living in remote or rural areas of the country.  That was the conclusion of health care industry leaders, Capitol Hill decision makers and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials today at a major conference to discuss the future of wireless health care.

Health Care Innovation Day (HCI-DC), hosted by the San Diego based West Wireless Health Institute (WWHI), focused on accelerating low cost health care solutions by encouraging innovations in wireless medical technology.  Attendees had access to and interaction with wireless health industry leaders, government stakeholders, and public and private funders.

To highlight and promote participation in the Veterans Affairs Innovation Initiative (VAi2), WWHI also issued a $10,000 challenge to innovators to create an original wireless sensor or application that connects patients with their Veterans Health Care provider and targets one or more identified health conditions affecting veterans, such as polytrauma.  Submission themes must be in keeping with WWHI's mission of decreasing health care costs through the application of wireless health technology.

"HCI-DC attracted nearly 300 business leaders and policymakers today, to learn firsthand about innovations that will significantly lower health care costs," said Don Casey, WWHI's CEO.  "The event was an exciting step forward as policymakers and entrepreneurs, start-ups and established companies all had the chance to interact and engage in the wireless health discussion, receiving expert insight on how to successfully take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead."

Among the programs highlighted, conference participants had the opportunity to learn more about applying for funding from the VAi2 program, a $100 million initiative that invests in health solutions to improve access, quality, performance, and cost for veterans.  

"Nearly every segment of the Veteran community can benefit from the integration of wireless technology with health care in terms of access to care and quality of services delivered," said W. Scott Gould, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and a keynote speaker at the event. "The VA Innovation Initiative (VAi2) is all about finding solutions that work for the men and women who served our country and for all Americans."

The event, held at the Ronald Reagan Building just a few blocks from the White House, featured  keynote speakers and expert panelists including Dr. Peter Levin, Chief Technology Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs; Todd Park, Chief Technology Officer, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and, Dr. Joseph Smith, Chief Medical and Science Officer, WWHI.

To watch the webcast of HCI-DC and learn more about WWHI, visit: www.westwirelesshealth.org.

ABOUT THE WEST WIRELESS HEALTH INSTITUTE

WWHI (www.westwirelesshealth.org) is one of the first medical research organizations in the world supporting the exploration and application of wireless technologies to advance infrastructure independent health care. Founded in March 2009 by the Gary and Mary West Foundation, the nonprofit Institute is dedicated to innovating, validating, advocating for, investing in and commercializing wireless technologies to transform medicine. Its mission is to lower health care costs by accelerating the availability of wireless medical technology. The Institute is based in San Diego, California, the global center for health care innovation.

SOURCE West Wireless Health Institute (WWHI)

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