Medical technology leaders expressed concerns that Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals are falling behind commercial hospitals due to budget constraints and staffing shortages, leading to a lack of access to life-changing medical technology. At a hearing held by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, leaders from medical technology companies highlighted recent innovations that VA hospitals have been slow to adopt, such as treatments for atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention.
Boston Scientific, a global medical technology company, discussed the slow adoption of pulsed field ablation technology for atrial fibrillation in VA hospitals, with only 10% having access compared to over 60% in commercial hospitals. The company attributed this gap to budget uncertainty, staffing challenges, and procurement inefficiencies within the VA.
Philips, another medical technology company, emphasized the importance of modernizing VA hospitals to improve outcomes for veterans. They introduced the Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure (RATE) technology, which uses artificial intelligence to detect early signs of infectious diseases. The company also suggested creating a centralized network for VA radiology departments to share resources and expertise, ensuring a consistent standard of care.
Lawmakers at the hearing stressed the need for the VA to have sufficient funds, tools, and capabilities to provide timely access to medical advancements for veterans. They also discussed potential collaboration between the Defense Department and VA in adopting medical technologies. Overall, the focus was on addressing the challenges faced by VA hospitals in acquiring and implementing life-saving medical technologies to improve care for veterans.
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