How Wearables Improve VA Health Outcomes

July 29, 2025

274 words, 1 minute read time.

The current administration has a focus on reducing costs while also improving the delivery of goods and services. When it comes to handling data, innovations in code generated by artificial intelligence have enabled this remarkable goal.

The challenge arises when transitioning from the data center to the hospital. “Fail early” may be a mantra for a software developer, but in a healthcare situation, it is unacceptable.

Today, we sat down with Jeff DiLullo, Chief Regional Leader for Philips North America and Jeffrey “Mach” Schneider, a Philips consultant. They explored the value of applying mobile technology to reduce cost and enhance patient outcomes in hospitals.

Both gentlemen are military veterans, and the focus of the discussion is the Department of Veterans Affairs, which operates 170 medical centers and employs over 470,000 staff members.

When examining the population of veterans, we can see that it has a wide distribution in rural areas. This can mean long trips for patients to get care.

. . . you can put a patch on your chest and monitor a veteran at home in three, four hours away from a VA Medical Center, where they would normally have to come in to get an EKG. We can do that at home and monitor for AFib and other scenarios, actually, with real time call centers. Connect with them and say, hey, we see some abnormalities over the last few weeks, we'd like you to come in for an exam. That way you're only bringing a veteran in when they need to come in, and you can monitor at home.

Jeff DiLullo

Philips

During the interview, we look at wearable devices that can provide information to physicians to help make treatment decisions. The example given is Philips’ RATE algorithm, which is used within the Department of Defense. It can provide real time health monitoring to act as an “early warning” system for military members. For example, it can detect signs of infectious diseases before symptoms appear.

Advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence enable Philips to develop a risk score calculation that reduces exposure to vulnerable populations.

Learn more about how Philips is expanding the use of AI-powered heath technology across the VA and Department of Defense.