Setting the Scene
Background:
San Franciso is affiliated with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), meaning SFVAHCS Veterans can access a world-class medical institution at VA prices. The innovation program was established in 2021 when I joined the facility as the first Innovation Specialist. The work detailed below is a collection of collaborations with industry partners to create new technology to address Veteran and clinician problems.
San Franciso is affiliated with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), meaning SFVAHCS Veterans can access a world-class medical institution at VA prices. The innovation program was established in 2021 when I joined the facility as the first Innovation Specialist. The work detailed below is a collection of collaborations with industry partners to create new technology to address Veteran and clinician problems.
My efforts:
- Screen potential collaborators, work to scope each project, and draft Statment of Work documents.
- Facilitate clinician engagement and involvement in each collaboration.
- Run Discovery efforts and document findings to be shared with the project team through visual artifacts.
- Design solutions or provide guidance and feedback on solutions.
- Facilitate feedback with Veterans and clinicians.
- Screen potential collaborators, work to scope each project, and draft Statment of Work documents.
- Facilitate clinician engagement and involvement in each collaboration.
- Run Discovery efforts and document findings to be shared with the project team through visual artifacts.
- Design solutions or provide guidance and feedback on solutions.
- Facilitate feedback with Veterans and clinicians.
Transgender Community Building
Discovery Research
- Qualitative interviews guides were refined with SME feedback.
- Interviews included; Psychiatrists (3), Peer Support Specialists (5), Nurse Practitioners (3), Endocrine Clinicians (2), Psych Trainees (6)
- Interviews notes were coded and organized. The synthesis is included below.
- Qualitative interviews guides were refined with SME feedback.
- Interviews included; Psychiatrists (3), Peer Support Specialists (5), Nurse Practitioners (3), Endocrine Clinicians (2), Psych Trainees (6)
- Interviews notes were coded and organized. The synthesis is included below.
Research Coding & Mapping:
Research Findings :
Observations:
- The clinician experience included some very difficult documentation and process gaps but were deprioritized for this collaboration.
- The opportunity for some magic was between the clinician and Trans Veteran relationship and interactions.
- The proposed direction included providing important information when necessary, giving options for new interactions, and allowing the Veterans to build community with other trans femme, trans masc, and non-binary individuals.
Observations:
- The clinician experience included some very difficult documentation and process gaps but were deprioritized for this collaboration.
- The opportunity for some magic was between the clinician and Trans Veteran relationship and interactions.
- The proposed direction included providing important information when necessary, giving options for new interactions, and allowing the Veterans to build community with other trans femme, trans masc, and non-binary individuals.
Solution:
A prototyped app that has been refined through Veteran feedback. The app is currently in development with the collaborator.
- Building connection and community for Trans and non-binary Veterans regardless of where they are in the US.
- Mimic traditional in-person clinical interactions and allow Veterans to introduce themselves.
- Practice difficult interactions and receive feedback, as would be done in a clinical setting to prepare for real life.
- Learn and practice new skills, such as voice training and speech therapy, to build confidence while learning about others' experiences.
- Find helpful clinical and non-clinical resources to meet the Veterans' needs outside of clinical interactions.
A prototyped app that has been refined through Veteran feedback. The app is currently in development with the collaborator.
- Building connection and community for Trans and non-binary Veterans regardless of where they are in the US.
- Mimic traditional in-person clinical interactions and allow Veterans to introduce themselves.
- Practice difficult interactions and receive feedback, as would be done in a clinical setting to prepare for real life.
- Learn and practice new skills, such as voice training and speech therapy, to build confidence while learning about others' experiences.
- Find helpful clinical and non-clinical resources to meet the Veterans' needs outside of clinical interactions.
