The Veterans Health Administration Innovation Ecosystem and Fitbit have stepped into a new initiative designed to help veterans, caregivers and VA staff to manage their health and wellness during the coronavirus pandemic.
The initiative provides eligible veterans, caregivers and VA staff who currently use Fitbit devices with free access to Fitbit’s paid programs and services to help them manage stress, improve sleep and increase physical activity. According to a VA blog post, 10,000 eligible participants will initially be provided with a one-year free membership to Fitbit Premium under the initiative.
“We see the potential of digital health to increase access and transform how we care for Veterans based on technologies like smartphones and mobile apps already being widely used,” said Joshua Patterson, director of Care and Transformational Initiatives, VHA IE.
Related
Participants will also have access to Fitbit Health Coaching, one-on-one coaching and guidance from a certified health coach or licensed health professional.
Eligibility is based on various factors such as whether an individual is a veteran, already a Fitbit user and their location. Some veterans who currently receive VA healthcare may be eligible to receive a Fitbit Sense, Fitbit’s most advanced health smartwatch.
VA is working with Veteran Service Organizations and community-based organizations to explore how wearables and other digital health technologies can help veterans and VA health care teams meet their health care needs.
Related
“This initiative aims to advance how our support becomes more personal when we better understand the day-to-day challenges facing every veteran, their caregivers and VA staff, and especially now,” added Patterson.
Interested veterans, caregivers and VA staff who currently use Fitbit devices can click here to express their interest in participating by Jan. 25..
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com
Want to get more connected to the great resources Connecting Vets has to offer? Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter.