The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to launch a pilot program that will provide veterans' family caregivers with iPads, according to a notice on the Federal Business Opportunities website, Modern Healthcare reports.
The notice indicated that VA had awarded a $350,000 communications contract to support the program (Lee, Modern Healthcare, 5/8).
Program Details
The program, called Clinic-in-Hand, will provide iPads to 1,000 family caregivers. The devices will be equipped with health care applications and tools to assist caregivers in delivering at-home health care services to veterans.
Jo Schuda -- a VA spokesperson -- said the apps will be integrated with VA data systems, enabling the agency, caregivers and veterans to exchange health-related data (Brewin, NextGov, 5/2).
According to the notice, the apps are expected to "replicate some of the functionality contained in VA's [electronic health record system], as well as [add] new capabilities" (Modern Healthcare, 5/8).
Schuda said the agency will invite primary caregivers enrolled in VA's Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers program to participate in the iPad initiative (NextGov, 5/2).