Virtual Hope Box Receives 2014 Department of Defense Innovation Award

The Department of Defense awarded a 2014 DoD Innovation Award to The National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2) for its Virtual Hope Box smartphone application. When a person is feeling down or distressed, they can use the suite of simple tools in the Virtual Hope Box to help them with coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking.

Dr. Jonathan Woodson, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, presented Dr. Nigel Bush with the award on December 4 at the Annual Continuing Education Meeting of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS). Bush acknowledged the joint venture between several organizations in developing the free mobile app.

“The Innovation Award recognizes the importance of exploring new approaches for the health care of our service members and veterans,” said Bush. “It acknowledges the unique collaboration of the National Center for Telehealth & Technology, the Portland VA Medical Center and the Military Suicide Research Consortium in producing the Virtual Hope Box mobile application. We hope this app brings help and hope to many lives.”

Dr. Steffensen, Acting Chief of Innovation at Military Health System, said the review board was impressed with T2’s application and hopes to see similar work in the future. Reviewers commented:

“Innovative personalized virtual app that is very user-friendly with the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder patient in mind.”

“Provides clinicians with an additional tool to help their patients.”

“High ratings in Google Play and iTunes speak to the app’s user likeability and initial success.”

Another reviewer commented that he is “planning to bring this innovation back to his practice” to share with his patients. The app is available for Android and iOS devices at the App Store, Google Play and Amazon for Kindle Fire. For more information, visit the Virtual Hope Box page.