Defense Health Agency’s Virtual Education Center Wins 2024 Digital Health Transformation Award

Story by Mark Oswell

Defense Health Agency

The Defense Health Agency’s Virtual Education Center, managed by the DHA Medical Simulation and Training Program Management Office, was awarded a 2024 GOVTECH CONNECTS Digital Health Transformation Award.

Selected by a panel of leaders from across the federal information technology sector, the Digital Health Transformation Award recognizes federal and military health information technology programs that are harnessing the power of emerging technologies to advance their missions.

The VEC team was recognized for their innovative technological approach to content delivery, secure communication platforms, and solving critical patient education needs for DHA.

The VEC is an online platform containing validated health information and serves as a valuable resource for patients between medical appointments. To date, more than 3,400 providers and close to 10,000 patients have registered VEC accounts. The goal is to provide patients with validated health information so they can make informed decisions about their health.

“Our team has worked tirelessly to innovate and improve patient education and empowerment through technology, and it is a privilege to be recognized for our efforts,” said U.S. Army Col. Maria Molina, MST functional lead. “This award is a testament to the VEC’s commitment to driving meaningful change by empowering patients to make informed decisions about their health.”

To support Military Health System beneficiaries, the VEC library hosts more than 45,000 items of DHA-approved content that cover a diverse range of medical topics and specialties, publishers, and media types. The globally hosted content cannot be modified by providers, ensuring standardized clinical education messaging.

“The VEC portal offers consistent experience and information available for both providers and patients, improving patient’s confidence in care and perception of health,” said Brett Lord, assistant program manager for the Medical Simulation and Training Program Management Office.