(Photo: Gerd Altmann)
The VA has launched a $1 million competition known as the Artificial Intelligence Tech Sprint to address health care worker burnout.
This nationwide challenge invites innovators to develop AI-powered solutions to alleviate burnout among healthcare professionals. The winning solutions will focus on assisting healthcare professionals in their clinical duties and medical record management.
The AI Tech Sprint is seeking proposals that target two specific areas: speech-to-text solutions for medical appointments and document processing to streamline the integration of non-VA medical records into patients’ VA records.
Reducing healthcare worker burnout is a pressing concern for VA, given the increased demand for care and benefits provided to Veterans. This initiative aligns with President Biden’s executive order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, which emphasizes responsible AI development and ensuring public awareness of AI-generated content.
VA seeks to employ trustworthy AI solutions to enhance healthcare and benefits for Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. VA hospitals have consistently outperformed non-VA hospitals in terms of quality and patient satisfaction.
The AI Tech Sprint is just one component of VA’s approach to tackle healthcare worker burnout. REBOOT, Reduce Employee Burnout and Optimize Organizational Thriving, was previously launched to address factors contributing to burnout and promote employee well-being. Additionally, VA has increased its hiring efforts, leading to a 20% decrease in turnover among Veterans Health Administration employees from 2022 to 2023.
This competition is part of a broader national focus on AI technology’s potential. By using AI to handle non-clinical tasks, healthcare workers can dedicate more time to delivering the care Veterans and their families deserve, ultimately reducing burnout and enhancing healthcare experiences.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
