VA Taps Telehealth to Treat Vets at Home

The Department of Veterans Affairs will provide telehealth services to veterans in their homes, workplaces and other convenient locations through a new initiative. VA will work with Boston-based American Well, which won the VA Innovation Initiative (VAi2) competition.

The project will focus on using American Well's Online Care system and aims to make needed care more accessible, convenient and effective. VAi2 selects, funds, and evaluates new ideas from VA employees, academia and the private sector.

The agreement between the VA and American Well, announced on Nov. 4, marks the first deployment of American Well's telehealth technology by the U.S. government. The initiative will make it possible for VA providers to care for veterans using telehealth technology for behavioral health, oncology and perioperative care...