The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has partnered with Facebook and the American Red Cross to support the mental health of veterans via social connection. The partnership will provide over 7,400 video call devices that veterans, their families and caregivers may use to stay socially connected at home, VA said Wednesday.

The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to launch initial capabilities of its electronic health record system in July at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Wash., Federal News Network reported Thursday.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will implement fifth-generation or 5G connectivity across health care operations of its Palo Alto, Calif.-based hospital, Military.com reported Thursday. Robert Wilkie, VA secretary and 2019 Wash100 Award winner, said at a National Press Club conference he expects 5G to help the department generate higher-definition visuals of patient anatomy in support of the telesurgery services.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has unveiled a research and development hub for artificial intelligence-based health care technology platforms intended to support former military personnel, their families and caregivers.

Robert Wilkie, secretary of veterans affairs and a 2019 Wash100 Award recipient, said he predicts his department's programs would win the budgetary favor of the upcoming 2020 elections, Military Times reported Thursday.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has established a new California-based center that would focus on the technological innovation of health care services. VA said Monday that it stood up the National Center for Collaborative Healthcare Innovation under a partnership with the Veterans Health Administration Innovation Ecosystem. NCCHI operates as part of the department's Palo Alto Health Care System.

Robert Wilkie, secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs and a 2019 Wash100 Award winner, said he expects VA’s budget to increase in the coming years, the Military website reported Wednesday.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has introduced a smartphone application that works to organize and streamline healthcare resources into a unified location for veterans and caregivers. The Launchpad for Veterans suite will enable users to access VA apps from five different categories namely mental health improvement, health care team communication, vital health information sharing and quality of life improvement, the agency said Monday.

The Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency agreed to help modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs' supply chain management. VA said Monday that it will gain access to DLA’s network of suppliers across the U.S. under the new partnership. The effort would centralize VA's ordering system to reduce risk, abuse, waste and fraud in the procurement of medical items.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is working to augment its health care system with new implementations as part of the Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks or MISSION act. The legislation, passed in 2018, intends to streamline the delivery of health care services and help veterans access more care options that suit their needs, VA said Monday.