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Congrats Promising Practices!

Diffusion of Excellence Shark Tank 2023

Season Update: A swell of VHA innovators applied for the chance to spread their practice across the VHA seas! Application season is now closed, and the winning Promising Practices are here. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's competition. Swim down to the document below to view the list of winning Promising Practices and facility Shark Bids. Did you miss jumping aboard the competition this year? VHA Shark Tank applications re-open spring 2024. Applicants may contact the VA Diffusion Support Team with any questions.


VHA Shark Tank Competition at iEX

This year’s competition was held during VHA Innovation Experience (iEX) on November 1, 2023. Finalists competed for the chance to become one of the 10 Promising Practice winners who will replicate their innovations at a new VA facility. This year’s Pitch of the Day winner was Pap Hub and Spoke Program from VA Minneapolis Health Care System. Congratulations to all finalists, Promising Practices, and the Pitch of the Day winner! If you were unable to attend in person or virtually, check back for a recording!

2023 VHA Shark Tank Competition Finalists

2023 VHA Shark Tank Finalists

View the fifteen competition finalists' Diffusion Marketplace pages below.

ELEGANT-DM2

Breaking barriers to improve the care for Veterans with Diabetes.

Created in September 2020 by the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center-University Drive

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

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

Created in December 2019 by the Little Rock VA Clinic (Little Rock Main Street)

Leveraging Alteryx Designer Against VA Health Connect Data

Improving Veterans Experience by quickly building beneficial tools capable of increasing efficiency and effectiveness at any level.

Created in May 2022 by the VISN 10 VA Health Connect Clinical Contact Center

Military Environmental Exposure Non-Registry Template

New template to address non-registry military toxic exposure concerns

Created in March 2023 by the Dayton VA Medical Center

Pap Hub and Spoke Program

Screening participation and follow-up will reduce cervical cancer.

Created in January 2022 by the Minneapolis VA Medical Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

What is VHA Shark Tank?

VHA’s Shark Tank Competition identifies frontline employee innovations that promote improved experiences for Veterans, employees, caregivers, and VHA community. The competition spotlights passionate employees who are addressing VA health care priorities.

Season Highlights

This season, Diffusion received over 350 applications from VA staff across program offices and all 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs). Applicants made a huge SPLASH this year with a 24% increase in applications from the 2022 competition.

Learn More on C20

On September 28, 2023, expert panelists discussed VHA Shark Tank’s profound impact on Veteran health care.

View the episode recording here. Please note, this link is only accessible to VA employees.

2023 VHA Shark Tank Highlighted Priorities

Nominated practices addressed one or more of the below 2023 VHA Shark Tank Highlighted Priorities, which align with the Under Secretary for Health’s 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

2023 VHA Shark Tank Timeline

VHA Shark Tank Timeline

Facility Communication Toolkit

Facility leaders are encouraged to promote the announcement of this year’s VHA Shark Tank Competition Promising Practices at their facilities. Download the new toolkit through the SharePoint link here to access customizable promotional materials. Please note, this link is only accessible to VA employees and the document must be open in the desktop version of Microsoft Word to access embedded content.


Fin-tastic highlights of the 2023 VHA Shark Tank Competition coming soon!