Helping hospitalized Veterans learn to use MyHealtheVet and VA Video Connect
Official title: A Pilot Digital Literacy Intervention to Engage Hospitalized Veterans with MyHealtheVet and VA Video Connect
Funded at Iowa City VA Medical Center · NIH-11179235 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project teaches hospitalized Veterans hands-on digital skills so they can use MyHealtheVet and VA Video Connect for follow-up care after leaving the hospital.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa City VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I21HX003875-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11179235 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are hospitalized Veterans who need post-discharge follow-up and are willing to receive bedside help learning MyHealtheVet and VA Video Connect.
✕Less likely to help
This intervention may not help Veterans who already use MyHealtheVet or VA Video Connect comfortably, who lack home internet access, or who cannot participate in bedside training due to medical or cognitive limitations.
What this research studies
While you're in the hospital, staff will give bedside, hands-on training to help you learn to use MyHealtheVet and VA Video Connect. The program teaches basic tablet and video-visit skills and offers practice using the apps so you feel comfortable after discharge. Researchers will compare this bedside training to usual care to see if it improves your digital skills and increases virtual follow-up visits. They will also look at whether this approach can be added to normal hospital workflows and spread to other VA locations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Veterans may find it easier to join virtual appointments, get timely follow-up care, and avoid missed visits.
How similar studies have gone: The VA offers phone-based tablet orientation, but bedside, in-person digital literacy training is a new approach that has not been well tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa City VA Medical Center
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'shea, Amy Mj — Iowa City VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: O'shea, Amy Mj
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.