Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the integration of virtual care technologies has become increasingly pivotal. The research article titled "Improving Veteran Engagement with Virtual Care Technologies: a Veterans Health Administration State of the Art Conference Research Agenda" offers valuable insights into enhancing engagement with these technologies. For practitioners, especially those involved in online therapy services like TinyEYE, understanding and implementing these insights can lead to improved outcomes for children and other clients.
Understanding the Research
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has been at the forefront of implementing virtual care technologies. However, ensuring sustained engagement remains a challenge. The research highlights three key priorities:
- Understanding the veteran journey from active service to VHA enrollment and identifying optimal points for introducing virtual care technologies.
- Leveraging meaningful relationships in veterans' lives to support the adoption and sustained use of these technologies.
- Testing promising strategies in combinations to promote adoption and sustained use.
These priorities are not only applicable to veterans but can be adapted to improve engagement in other populations, such as children receiving online therapy services.
Implementing Research Outcomes
For practitioners, the following strategies can be derived from the research to enhance engagement with virtual care technologies:
- Personalized Introductions: Tailor the introduction of virtual care technologies to align with the specific journey of the client, whether they are veterans or children in therapy.
- Family and Caregiver Involvement: Encourage the involvement of family members and caregivers in the therapeutic process to enhance engagement and support sustained use of virtual care technologies.
- Combination of Strategies: Implement a combination of strategies, such as training, technical support, and motivational messaging, to address barriers and promote sustained engagement.
Encouraging Further Research
The research emphasizes the need for continued investigation into factors affecting engagement with virtual care technologies. Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to this body of research by documenting their experiences and outcomes with different engagement strategies. This can provide valuable data to refine existing approaches and develop new ones.
Conclusion
By leveraging the insights from the VHA research, practitioners can enhance their skills and improve outcomes for their clients. The strategies outlined provide a framework for increasing engagement with virtual care technologies, ultimately leading to better therapeutic results. For those interested in delving deeper into the research, the original paper can be accessed here.
