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Diffusion of Excellence VHA Shark Tank

10th VHA Shark Tank Competition

Applications are closed. Diffusion of Excellence will announce finalists on August 6.

This year, the competition received 224 applications from VHA staff across program offices and all Veteran Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). Thank you to all innovators who applied. View the full list of 2024 semifinalists below. 

Visit the VHA Shark Tank Landing Page to view all 2024 application submissions. Please note that this page is internal to VA. 

About VHA Shark Tank

VHA Shark Tank identifies VHA frontline employee innovations that promote positive outcomes and improved experiences for Veterans and VHA community. The competition shines a spotlight on employees who are passionate about solving some of the toughest challenges across VHA. This year, Diffusion of Excellence is celebrating its 10th competition. For questions, please contact the VA Diffusion Support Team.

2023 VHA Shark Tank Competition

Eligibility

All VHA employees that have implemented an innovation in at least one VHA facility (parent facility counts) and have collected three months of post-implementation data proving their practice’s effectiveness.

Benefits

Engage with leadership at every level, replicate your practice at another VHA facility, and tap into a diverse network of fellow innovators.

Highlights

Over the past nine years, the competition has identified 99 employee-led health care solutions and replicated them over 1,500 times across VHA.

2024 Competition Timeline

2024 VHA Shark Tank Timeline

Resources for Applicants

Explore answers to common questions about the application and competition.    

VHA Shark Tank Overview and Innovator Testimonials (Public Access)

Explore testimonials from innovators of previous winning practices on VHA's YouTube Channel. 

C20 VHA Innovation Ecosystem Episode (VA Access)

Learn more about VHA Innovation Ecosystem opportunities by watching a recent C20 episode. 


Round Two Evaluator Recruitment

Diffusion encourages eligible VA leaders to apply as round two evaluators by Friday, June 14, 2024 to help select finalists. Eligible evaluators include VHA program office leaders and senior managers, VISN Directors, High Reliability Officers, Systems Redesign managers, VISN Chief Medical Officers, Chief Nursing Officers, Chief Quality Management Officers, and VHA Innovation Ecosystem Fellows.

VHA Shark Tank Priorities

Nominated practices address one or more of the below VA health care priorities.

Hire faster and more competitively

  • Onboarding employees faster
  • Accelerating HR Specialist training and readiness (HR STAR)   
  • Investing in VA employees

Connect Veterans to the soonest and best care

  • Access initiatives
  • Care coordination
  • Referral Coordination Initiative (RCI)

Serve Veterans with military environmental exposure

  • Veterans’ exposure resources
  • Treating Veterans’ whole health
  • PACT Act

Accelerate VA’s journey to a High Reliability Organization

  • Ensuring Veteran access
  • Enhancing Veteran care
  • Recognizing employee commitment to HRO

Support Veterans’ whole health, their caregivers, and survivors

  • The Homeless Programs Office (HPO)
  • Veterans Canteen Service (VCS)
  • The Whole Health approach to Long COVID

Prevent Veteran suicide

  • Enhancing Veteran access
  • Enhancing Veteran care
  • Making progress

Promotional Materials

Diffusion of Excellence encourages you to promote the competition among your colleagues and VHA community. You can download the materials below to share more information.

At the 2023 VHA Shark Tank Competition, held during VHA Innovation Experience (iEX), 15 finalists competed for the chance to replicate their innovations at a new VA facility. Check out the 2023 finalist pitches through the video below.

ABOVE: 2023 VHA Shark Tank Competition Finalist Pitches

2023 VHA Shark Tank Competition Winners

View the list of 2023 VHA Shark Tank winning practices and explore their Diffusion Marketplace pages below.

CREW: Carbohydrate Reduction Empowering Wellness (formerly Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction (TCR) Aspire)

Improved metabolic health, weight loss, and decreased medications in DM2

Created by the Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Asheville)

From Resistance to Resilience - A Veteran's Renewal with Ketamine

“Ketamine therapy is a NEW HOPE to Veterans that had NO HOPE.”

Created by the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans' Hospital (Little Rock, Arkansas)

RAVEE: Reaching All Veterans @ Every Encounter

RAVEE with Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale to achieve P2A goals.

Created by the Bath VA Medical Center, Canandaigua VA Medical Center, Rochester Calkins VA Clinic, Elmira VA Clinic, Rochester Clinton Crossings VA Clinic, Wellsville VA Clinic, Wellsboro VA Clinic

SCOUTS (Supporting Community Outpatient, Urgent care & Telehealth Services)

SCOUTS ICTs provide post Emergency Department care to Older Veterans

Created by the Office of Primary Care